Presbytidings – November 2013

The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska68787

(402) 375-2669 + www.fpcwayne.org

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

In your most private thoughts, you may wonder why the tornado had to hit our community and cause so much damage and destruction.  What good could come from such chaos?  What was God up to, anyway?  But I have a feeling that besides seeing nice, new buildings cropping up on the east side of town, we will see lasting fruit grow out of the October storm, too.

Take Stacy Keach from Fox Lake, Wisconsin, for example.  She is a random girl from a random place who read about our tornado damage.  And, most importantly, she was moved to do something to help.  A couple of weeks ago, I received a hand-written letter that is now hanging in our Fellowship Hall.  Here is what it said:

Dear First Presbyterian Church,

Hello, my name is Stacy.  Enclosed in this letter is $9.00 to help with the rebuilding of Wayne.  I hope it’s enough to cover a need for the city.  I also hope that all of the members of the church are safe and not injured.  May God bless the congregation of the church for their aid in helping to rebuild the city of Wayne.

Sincerely,  Stacy Keach

Now I don’t know Stacy Keach from Adam.  I don’t know how she found out about our town—or much less our church.  But there is a miracle here.  It is a miracle of compassion, a miracle of concern for fellow human beings who are suffering.  This is what I have seen as fruit growing in the wake of the tornado: empathy for others.  And that is what God desires from us.  Jesus himself said that the law could be boiled down to two basic commandments—to love God and to love others (Matthew 22:37-40).  And Paul summed up our responsibility to each other like this: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2 NIV)

In the months to come, there will undoubtedly be new, green shoots sprouting off the twisted and broken tree stumps, because nature is relentless in its growing and rejuvenating power.  And there will be new, fancy buildings rising up out of the rubble to replace the wrecked ones, because people feel challenged to rebuild.  But I hope that in addition to all that, the blossoms of compassion will continue to flourish long after the debris is cleaned up.  I pray that our hunger for compassion will drive us to permanently replace our old, callous attitudes with a spirit of generosity and kindness.

When I took Stacy’s $9 to the bank, I felt a wave of hope.  I told the story to the bank teller, and I think she was touched by the girl’s gesture, too.  Nine dollars may not seem like a lot in the world’s eyes, but it’s something.  It’s enough to cover some need.  It’s a symbol of one person’s concern for others.  And although it certainly wasn’t much out of my pocket, I decided to match Stacy’s gift and give a total of $18 to the tornado relief fund.  And maybe there is a challenge in here for all of us—the nine-dollar challenge, if you will: to keep the compassion alive, to give what we have to help others, to think of others as much as we think of ourselves.  And, to echo a wise young woman, may God bless our congregation as we rebuild, not only the physical parts of our community, but our spiritual ones, as well.

Pastor Ray

Daylight Saving Time ends the first weekend of November. Don’t forget to set your clock back one hour this weekend!

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, November 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, November 3.

STEWARDSHIP DRIVE

Each fall our church conducts a stewardship campaign and asks our members to complete both a Financial and a Time-and-Talents pledge. Your gifts and talents are vital to the health of our church. Anita Fuelberth will hand out stewardship packets Sunday, November 3. Pledges should be returned the following Sunday, November 10, when we will celebrate with a church potluck after worship. “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 NIV

CHURCH STEWARDSHIP POTLUCK

After worship on November 10, we will share a potluck lunch as a church family.  Please bring something to share!

RAKE AND BAKE

High school youth from all over Wayne will be doing a service project together on Sunday, 11/3, from 1:30-3:30. Meet at St. Mary’s parking lot, and wear work clothes!

FRONT PORCH PICKERS BENEFIT CONCERT The Front Porch Pickers will perform a benefit concert for the Wayne Tornado Relief Fund on Sunday, 11/10 at 5:oo pm here at FPC. Then you may join them for soup and sandwiches. This is a freewill benefit. The Pickers are Alan Bruflat, Brenda Nissen, and Jim Lindau. (Joyce Reeg would appreciate the donation of a few pans of bars for this event.)

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

Come and pray with our community Thursday, 11/7, 12:00-1:00pm at First Nebraska Bank’s community room. Hear the compelling, first-hand testimony of a mission worker who has been serving in eastern Asia.

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE & SUPPER

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” (Psalm 107:1 NIV) Join Christians from our community as we praise God together for his indescribable gifts (2 Corinthians 9:15): Sunday, 11/24, at Calvary Bible Evangelical Free Church (502 Lincoln St.). The service will be at 5:00pm, and the supper will be immediately following (at 6:00) in their fellowship hall. As a congregation, we are responsible for providing 4 pots of soup and 4 pies. Please sign up for that at the Opportunity Table.

CHILDREN OF THE COVENANT

We rejoice with the families who are presenting their little ones for baptism in our church:

Mason Mark Richter, son of Brian and Kristina (and nephew of Ray and Rachelle McCalla) will receive the sacrament of baptism on Sunday, 11/3. And Cooper Steven McLaughlin, son of Scott and Lindsay, will receive the sacrament on Sunday, December 1. “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are.” (1 John 3:1a NRSV)

THANKSGIVING DAY

The church office will be closed both Thursday and Friday of this Thanksgiving holiday. Please, do not hesitate to leave if message if you have a need at either (402)375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com

CHURCH SCHOOL

Church school for preschool through 6^th grade meets from 9:00-9:45 every Sunday morning. If you would like to serve as a teacher, please contact Misty Beair (375-3773).

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Presbyterian Women will meet on Wednesday, November 6^th at 6:30pm.  Judy Lindberg will lead the Bible study.  Elaine Francis will be the hostess.

SEWING SOULS

Sewing Souls will meet to clean the church kitchen on Saturday, November 16^th at 9:00 a.m.  Judy Lindberg will be the hostess.

YOUTH GROUPS

The junior high (6^th through 8^th grades) youth group will meet on November 13 and 27, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The high school (9^th through 12^th grades) youth group will meet on November 6 and 20, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. Bring a friend!

BROWN-BAG BIBLE STUDY

The final gathering of the Brown-Bag Bible Study for this semester will be on Wednesday, 11/20, at noon in the Goldenrod Room in the WSC Student Center.

HOLIDAY FOOD BASKET PROGRAM

We are expecting a very busy holiday season at the Food Pantry.  Food stamps are expected to be cut as of November 1. We are so thankful for the many donations that have been made. Please consider making either a food or financial donation to our Holiday Food Basket Program. A collection basket will be located in Fellowship Hall. There is a great need in our community, please be generous. Please contact Jenny at the church office fpcwayne@gmail.com if you have any questions.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY

Our presbytery will gather at Calvin Crest on Thursday, 11/21, beginning at 10:00am. Pastor Ray will be attending. If you would like to participate, please let him know.

AN INVITATION FROM THE STEPHENS MINISTRY

The Stephens Ministers from Grace Lutheran Church & Our Savior Lutheran Church are joining together to invite anyone affected by the tornado to attend a Prayer, Care and Share Meeting hosted in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Lutheran Church, Monday, 11/4 at 7:30 pm.

SERMONS ON THE WEB

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

HERE SHE IS: MRS. ELKHORN VALLEY

Our own Rachelle McCalla will be representing our community as she competes in the Mrs. Nebraska pageant as Mrs. Elkhorn Valley. To learn more about the contest, including ticket information, visit www.mrsnebraska.net. Please pray for her—and all the contestants—as they do their best to represent themselves and their families.

NATIONAL DONOR SABBATH WEEKEND

Become an organ, eye and tissue donor. November 15-17 is National Donor Sabbath Weekend. Please talk to your family members about becoming a donor.  For more information, call 1-800-718-LIFE or go to www.DonatelifeNebraska.com

LOOKING AHEAD TO ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

• The Christmas/Advent Decoration Party will be held Monday, 11/25 at 6:30pm.
• The children’s Christmas program will be during worship on Sunday, December 15. Greg Worner is organizing the program. If you would like to help, please contact him (grworne1@wsc.edu; 375-4809).
• We will go caroling to CareAge and The Oaks on Wednesday, 12/18, during supper time.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• Our community as it continues to recover from the tornado
• Our unchurched neighbors
• All who are battling cancer
• All who live in care centers
• CrossPoint Campus Ministry and our college students
• Peace in the Middle East
• Persecuted Christians in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea

GREETERS

NOVEMBER 2013                                                                                         

3^rd – The Heese Family

10^th – Joann Proett & The Beesons

17^th – The Francises, J. Rees, J. Curtiss

24^th – The Urbanec Family

DECEMBER 2013

1st – The Liska & Pat & Glenda McDonald

8th – Karen Johnson, Babs Middleton, Milton & Jackie Owens

15th – The Pulfers

22nd – The Paiges & The Hammers

29th – The McCorkindales

LECTORS

NOVEMBER 2013                                                                             

3^rd – Gail McCorkindale

10^th – Glenda McDonald

17^th – Angie Nelson

24^th – Candyce Peitz

DECEMBER 2013

1st – Ronda Ras

8th – Pat Straight

15th – Jack Beeson

22nd – Ken Liska

29th – Jeryl Nelson

 

ACOLYTES

NOVEMBER 2013                                                                             

3^rd – Layne Heese

10^th – Maddie Stenka

17^th – Beau Bowers

24^th – Shea Sweetland

DECEMBER 2013

1st – Sarah Wibben

8th – Gen McCalla

15th – Bralen Murphy

22nd – Nina Hammer

29th – Andy Wibben

 

November 2013 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1   Each Sunday Morning: Handbell Choir 8:45 Church School 9:00 Confirmation Class 9:00 Worship 10:00 Fellowship 11:00					1	2
3 Daylight Saving Time Ends Stewardship Drive begins	4 6:00 Scout Den Meeting	5 Election Day 3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	6 12pm Brown Bag Bible Study 7:30pm High School Youth	7 12:00pm International Day of Prayer	8 2:00 Wayne Women’s Club	9
10 Stewardship Drive ends Potluck after worship 5:00pm Front Porch Pickers Benefit Concert for Wayne Tornado Relief Fund	11 Veterans Day 6:00 Scout Pack Meeting	12 3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	13 12pm Brown Bag Bible Study 7:30pm Jr. High  Youth	14	15	16 9:00a.m. Sewing Souls clean church kitchen
17	18 6:00 Scout Den Meeting	19 3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	20 12pm Brown Bag Bible Study 7:30pm High School Youth	21	22	23
24	25 6:30 Advent Christmas Decoration Party 7:00 Session  Mtg	26 3:45 NE Nebraska Children’s Choir	27 7:30pm Jr. High Youth	28 Thanksgiving Day – Office Closed	29 Office closed	30

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?

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

              2        Phyllis Hix

6         Brandon Beair

7        Rick Lund

10        Kevin Peterson

12        Ken Liska, Mark McCorkindale

13        Katherine Butler, Tillie Jones, & Rachelle McCalla

14        Audrey Harder

18        John Gradwohl

28        David McElwain