Presbytidings – December 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.”

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR

 Can you believe that anyone would ever want to sneak into the notorious Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz? One man did just that.

 In September of 1940, Witold Pilecki, a Polish army captain, did the unthinkable—he sneaked into Auschwitz. That’s right, into Auschwitz. Pilecki knew that something was terribly wrong with the concentration camp, and as a committed Christian and a Polish patriot he couldn’t sit by and watch. He wanted to get information on the horrors of Auschwitz, but he knew he could only do that from the inside.

 So his superiors approved a daring plan. They provided a false identity card with a Jewish name, and then Pilecki allowed the Germans to arrest him during a routine Warsaw street roundup. Pilecki was sent to Auschwitz and assigned inmate number 4859. Pilecki, a husband and father of two, later said, “I bade farewell to everything I had known on this earth.” He became just like any other prisoner—despised, beaten, and threatened with death. From inside the camp he wrote, “The game I was now playing at Auschwitz was dangerous …. In fact, I had gone far beyond what people in the real world would consider dangerous.”

 But beginning in 1941, prisoner number 4859 started working on his dangerous mission. He organized the inmates into resistance units, boosting morale and documenting the war crimes. Pilecki used couriers to smuggle out detailed reports on the atrocities. By 1942, he had also helped organize a secret radio station using scrap parts. The information he supplied from inside the camp provided Western allies with key intelligence information about Auschwitz.

 In the spring of 1943, Pilecki joined the camp bakery where he was able to overpower a guard and escape. Once free, he finished his report, estimating that around 2 million souls had been killed at Auschwitz. When the reports reached London, officials thought he was exaggerating. Of course today we know he was right.

 This is the kind of dangerous mission that the Son of God undertook in his incarnation. Jesus Christ voluntarily gave up his divine status (Philippians 2:7) to enter the enemy-controlled territory called Earth. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” (John 1:14a NIV) He entered our world and became one of us—familiar with suffering and pain. And yet he never sinned; he never veered from his mission to undo the evil in the world.

 Jesus took the cup of our suffering; he shared in all the atrocities that humans have inflicted on each other—including Auschwitz. Jesus suffered and died on the cross to take away our sins. But Jesus completed his mission by rising from the dead, thereby trampling down death and starting the subversive work of spreading the kingdom in hostile territory.

 This Advent and Christmas season, let us give thanks to our Savior for entering our world in order to rescue us from sin and death. – Pastor Ray

The session will meet at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 2, and Monday, January 27, 2014, including the new class of ruling elders.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, December 2.

 ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS

Please sign up at the Opportunity Table to light the Advent candles during worship.

 CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

Poinsettias may be displayed in the sanctuary in honor or memory of the loved ones in your life. We will acknowledge the arrangements in the Christmas Eve program.  Please inform someone in the church office of the details.

YOUTH GROUPS

The junior high (6^th through 8^th grades) youth group will meet on December 11, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. The high school (9^th through 12^th grades) youth group will meet on December 4, from 7:30-8:30 p.m. These will be the last meetings of the year.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Presbyterian Women will meet on Wednesday, December 4^th at 6:30pm for a bible study (lesson 3 led by Martha Svoboda) and their annual cookie exchange.

 SEWING SOULS

Sewing Souls will not meet in December.

WAYNE ROTARY SOUP SUPPER

This annual event will be held on Thursday, 12/5 from 5:00-7:30pm at the Wayne City Auditorium. Tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for children 10 & under, and may be purchased at the door. Proceeds will go toward youth projects.

FPC CHRISTMAS BAND

The Christmas Band will play during worship on December 8^th.  Rehearsals will be held on Friday, 12/6 at 5:00pm, and on Sunday, 12/8 at 8:30am.  Please sign up at the Opportunity Table if you plan to play.  Contact Jay O’Leary at(402)375-2335  or JayO@inebraska.com if you would like music in advance.

 SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGING

Our church is scheduled to ring the bells at Pac N Save on Saturday, 12/14.  Please sign up to ring at the Opportunity Table.

CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS PROGRAM

The children’s Christmas program will be during worship on Sunday, December 15. Greg Worner is organizing the program. Our primary rehearsal will be during church school time on 12/8 (since we don’t have church school or Confirmation on 12/1, because of Thanksgiving weekend).  Greg is wondering if we could have an after-school rehearsal on either Monday, 12/2, or Wednesday, 12/4, from 3:40ish-5:00?  Please contact him (grworne1@wsc.edu; 375-4809) Scripts are available via email fpcwayne@gmail.com or on our Facebook page.

RING AROUND WAYNE

On Monday, December 16, at 7:00 pm the Presbyterian Pealers will participate in the Ring Around Wayne Bell concert at the National Guard Armory. Please come and support our Pealers!

CHRISTMAS CAROLING

• We will go caroling to CareAge and The Oaks on Wednesday, 12/18, during supper time. Please gather at The Oaks at 5:10pm. Bring a friend!
• Calvary Bible Evangelical Church is inviting all area churches to carol with them on December 14^th.  They will begin at 4:15 at Care-Age, and then travel over to the Oaks.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1. You believe in Santa Claus.
2. You don’t believe in Santa Claus.
3. You are Santa Claus.
4. You look like Santa Claus.

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

Our Christmas Joy Offering will be taken on Sunday, December 22^nd.  Whether providing financial assistance to current & former church workers and their families, or providing opportunities for deserving students to attend Presbyterian-related racial ethnic colleges and schools, your generous gifts to the Christmas Joy Offering will bring Good News of Great Joy to the poor in circumstances or spirit.

 CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE

Worship Christ, the newborn King! Tuesday, December 24, at 5:30pm. Bring your loved ones for a special candle-lit service celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

 HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

*The church office will be closed on Wednesday, 12/25.holiday.

*The office will also be closed Monday, 12/30 through Wednesday, January 1^st.

Please, do not hesitate to leave a message if you have a need at either (402)375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com

MITTEN TREE

Please help us decorate the tree in Fellowship Hall with gloves, hats, scarves and mittens.

WAYNE FOOD PANTRY

We are experiencing a busy holiday season at the Food Pantry. We are so thankful for the many donations that have been made. Please consider making a donation of either your time, some food, or even a financial gift. Please contact Jenny at the church office fpcwayne@gmail.com if you have any questions.

SERMONS ON THE WEB

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

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

 ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS GIVING

Here are some Web sites that will inspire you to give gifts that will make a real difference in people’s lives:

www.worldvision.org

www.samaritanspurse.org

www.compassion.com

www.churchworldservice.org

www.mbfoundation.org

www.heifer.org

calvincrest@calvincreat.org

 FIND US ON FACEBOOK

First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

SEASON OF LIGHT

The WSC Planetarium will begin its 2013 holiday show “Season of Light” on Sunday December 1, at 1:30 and 2:30 pm.  Season of Light traces the history and development of many of the world’s most endearing holiday customs, all of which involve lighting up the winter season.  Season of Light will be presented at 6:30 & 7:30 pm on December 6, 13, 20 & 21, and at 1:30 & 2:30 pm on December 1, 8, 15 & 22.  The suggested donation for all shows is $5 for adults and $3 for children.  For more information, go to www.wsc.edu/planetarium.  Come and experience the “Season of Lights.”

 

GREETERS

 

DECEMBER 2013                                                                                           

1^st – The Liskas, Pat & Glenda McDonald                                                     

8^th-K. Johnson, B. Middleton, M & J Owens                                                 

15^th – The Pulfer Family                                                                                        

22^nd – The Hammers & The Paiges                                                                 

29^th – The McCorkindale Family

JANUARY 2014       

 5th– The Heese Family

12th-The Urbanec Family    

19th – The Worner Family 

26th – The McLaughlins & The Marras                                           

 

LECTORS

DECEMBER 2013                                                                             

1^st – Rhonda Ras                                                                                 

8^th – Pat Straight                                                                                

15^th – Jack Beeson                                                                              

22^nd – Ken Liska                                                                                 

29^th – Jeryl Nelson  

JANUARY 2014  

5th – Kevin Peterson 

12th – Greg Worner

 19th – Jodi Pulfer  

 26th  –Tiffany Heese                                                                      

 

ACOLYTES

 DECEMBER 2013                                                                               

1^st – Sarah Wibben                                                                             

8^th – Genevieve McCalla                                                                     

15^th – Bralen Murphy                                                                          

22^nd – Nina Hammer                                                                         

29^th – Andy Wibben 

JANUARY 2014   

 5th – Braydn McCorkindale 

12th – Jon Worner      

19th – Emily Worner 

 26th – Maria Ras                                                              

                                                                       

December 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	2   6:00 Scout Den Meeting	3	4   6:30 PW Cookie Exchange & Bible Study 7:30 High School Youth	5	6	7   Afternoon: Uken Piano Recitals
8   Christmas Band	9   6:00 Scout Pack Meeting	10	11   7:30pm Jr. High School Youth	12	13	14
15   Children’s Christmas    Program	16   6:00 Scout Den Meeting   Ring Around Wayne 7pm	17	18   5:15 Christmas Caroling	19	20	21
22   Christmas Joy Offering	23	24   5:30 Christmas Eve Service	25   Christmas Day   Church Office Closed	26	27	28
29	30   Church Office Closed	26   Church Office Closed	31   Church Office Closed	1   New Years Day Church Office Closed	2	3

           

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

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

                         1        Hazel Roberts, Brittany Peterson

              5        Tiffanny Heese

              7        Candyce Peitz

            14        Randy Dunklau

            18        Beau Bowers

            19        Dorothy Stevenson

            20        Rich Murphy

            22        Nina Hammer

            31        Henry McCalla, Knox McCalla