Presbytidings – April 2014

The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787

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

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

 

A WORD FROM THE PASTOR

             It was the first movie I ever watched at home—on LaserDisc, of all things (remember those, the giant record-things that you had to flip over mid-movie?). We had checked it out from the library, and after much trial and error, we finally got it hooked up to our console TV set. The movie was Chariots of Fire.

            Chariots of Fire is the true story of two runners competing in the 1924 Olympics. Eric Liddell is a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams is an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice. Eric’s sister, Jennie, wants him to leave competitive running to join the family on the mission field in China. Jennie feels Eric is putting running ahead of serving God, and she questions his commitment.

            In one scene, Eric attempts to help his sister see his point of view. Eric announces with a smile, “I’ve decided I’m going back to China. The missionary service has accepted—”

            Jennie interrupts him. “Oh, Eric, I’m so pleased.”

            Eric continues, “But I’ve got a lot of running to do first. Jennie, you’ve got to understand. I believe that God made me for a purpose, for China. He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel his pleasure. To give it up would be to hold him in contempt. You were right; it’s not just fun. To win is to honor him.”

            Although Eric Liddell may have been an extraordinary human being, his vocation as a Christian was the same as yours and mine. That scene conveys an important truth about serving God: Not everyone is made to be a missionary in a far-off place; but each of us is equipped with a particular gift that we must use to glorify God. In fact, our deepest pleasure (in Liddell’s case, running) is often the thing that brings God the most honor.

            Now, of course, we need to be careful that we don’t mistake God’s pleasure for garden-variety sin. God is never glorified by those who embrace sin. But when we truly discover the thing we were meant to do on this planet—and then when we do it—God is glorified.

            St. Irenaeus of Lyon (A.D. 130-202) commented that “The glory of God is man fully alive.” That is, when we see men and women living fully, carrying out their God-given vocations, then God receives credit and honor for making those saints and redeeming them in Christ. That’s part of why we remember Eric Liddell: not only because of his running ability, but because of why he ran.

            So what about you? What is the thing that when you do it, you feel God’s pleasure? What is the thing that when you do it well, you honor God? What is the thing that God made you to do and by not doing it you hold him in contempt?

            Maybe the better question is, If you’re not already doing that thing, then why not?

            So whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17 NIV)

 Pastor Ray

 

 LENT AND EASTER SCHEDULE

Join our congregation as we follow Jesus to the cross and the empty tomb.

•          April 2 & 9: Lenten supper and vespers
•          April 13: Palm Sunday worship with the Presbyterian Pealers
•          April 13: Gary Randall in concert at the City Auditorium, 7:00pm
•          April 17: Maundy Thursday worship with Communion, 7:00pm
•          April 18: Community Good Friday service, noon, at 7^th and Main Streets
•          April 20: Easter Brunch, 9:00am
•          April 20: Easter worship with Communion

 

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

Since 1949 Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with those in need. Your generous gifts assist those affected by natural disasters, provide food to the hungry, and assist in helping to empower the poor and oppressed. We will take up the One Great Hour of Sharing offering on Palm Sunday, April 13, 2014.

 

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday and Easter Day in April.

 

EASTER BRUNCH

All are welcome to share in a fellowship brunch on Easter morning, Sunday, April 20^th at 9:00am.  A sign-up sheet is on the Opportunity Table for anyone who would like to contribute.

 

NO CHURCH SCHOOL OR CONFIRMATION

There will be no church school or Confirmation class on Easter Sunday.

 

YOUTH GROUPS

•          High School Youth: 4/2 & 4/16 7:30-8:30pm.
•          Jr. High Youth: 4/9 & 4/23 7:30-8:30pm.

 

COMMUNION WORKSHOP

It can be confusing for parents and kids who should take Communion during worship. So make plans to bring your kids to our Communion workshop on Sunday, 4/6, during church school time (9:00-9:45am).

 

CONFIRMATION UPDATE

Confirmation students will meet with their mentors on Sunday, April 6, from 9:00-9:45am. Our retreat to Calvin Crest will be April 25-27. We will meet at our church building at 5:00 and depart; we still need drivers to help transport down and back. Confirmation students who desire to join the church are invited to attend the session meeting on Monday, April 28, at 7:30pm. Confirmation Sunday will be May 18, during worship.

 

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Confirmation students who desire to join the church are invited to attend.

 

EASTER LILIES

Please help us decorate our sanctuary for Easter by bringing your Easter lilies and placing them on the chancel.

 

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL UPDATE

The next VBS planning meeting will be held 3/31 at 7 pm at the Max. Theme is Son Harvest Country Fair and will be held at the Wayne fairgrounds. Volunteers are welcome.

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Presbyterian Women will meet on TUESDAY, April 1, at 6:30pm. Martha Svoboda will lead the Bible study. Elaine Francis will be the hostess.

 

SEWING SOULS

The Sewing Souls will meet on Wednesday, April 23^rd at 6:30pm.

 

HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP

We will clean up trash on our stretch of Highway 35 (mile markers 33-35, east of Wayne) after worship on 4/27. Many hands make light work!

 

BROWN-BAG BIBLE STUDY

The Brown-Bag Bible study will meet on April 1, 8, 15, and 22 in the Goldenrod Room.

 

FPC DIRECTORY

Our new directories are available on the Opportunity Table. Keep track of each other!

 

I DON’T PLAY THAT INSTRUMENT

Pfaltzgraff and Pfriends will be putting on a concert in our sanctuary, Monday, 4/7, at 7:30pm. Lots of fun, and great music!

 

CONCERT & PASSION DRAMA

Join Gary Randall, a singer/songwriter from South Dakota, as he performs a free concert at the Wayne Auditorium on Sunday, April 13^th at 7:00pm.

 

BIG BOX O’ STUFF

In the Fellowship Hall, near the bookshelves, there is a big box of stuff—cards, letters, other correspondences—from our church’s past. Since we are putting valuable documents in our new fire safe, and since not everything will fit in there, we would like to reduce the stuff lying around our building. So please take a few minutes to root through the box, and take what you like (or give to whomever might like it). At the end of the month, we will recycle the remainder of what’s in there. Thank you!

 

GREAT PLAINS WEE KIRK CONFERENCE

This is a great opportunity to be inspired, motivated, encouraged and refreshed!  Join other Presbyterians from <ay 6h – May 9^th at the Holiday Inn, downtown Sioux Falls.  See the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall for more details.

 

BINGO NIGHT

B = BINGO!

I = It’s fun!

N = No youth group or PW that night!

G = Great prizes!

O = Outrageous fun!

Bingo night is coming to FPC! Wednesday, April 30, is a fifth Wednesday in April, and there are no other programs going on. So strap on your visor, grab your dauber, bring your friends, and come to FPC’s BINGO Night! Multigenerational fun with light snacks & prizes!

 

SERMONS ON THE WEB

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

 

WAYNE STATE COLLEGE TRIVIA NIGHT

Help support WSC Soccer, and join the fun!  Saturday, April 12^th at 6:30pm.  The venue is yet to be announced.

 

RENEW WAYNE

CrossPoint campus ministry is bringing an amazing event to our community! Audio Adrenaline and Kutless will be playing at the Community Activity Center on Thursday, April 24. For more information, including how to volunteer, visit www.renewwayne.com, or find them on Facebook!

 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• Our community
• Our schools and teachers
• 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

 

APRIL 2014                                                                                                   

6^th – The Pulfer Family                                                                                

13^th – The Heese Family                                                                               

20^th – The Beesons, The Milton Owens                                                    

28^{th –} The Worner Family                                                                            

MAY 2014

4th – The McLaughlins & The Fuelberths

11th – The Pat McDonalds & The Griesses

18th – The Worner Family

25th – The Liskas & The Marras

                                                                                                     

LECTORS

 

APRIL 2014                                                                                        

6^th – Jim Curtiss                                                                              

13^th – Bev Beeson                                                                             

20^th – Karen Johnson                                                                        

28^th – Judy Lindberg                                                                        

 MAY 2014

4th – Mark Hammer

11th – Jack Beeson

18th – Larry Heese

25th – Phil Griess

 

ACOLYTES

APRIL 2014                                                                                       

6^th – Eleanor McCalla                                                                      

13^th – Braydn McCorkindale                                                                       

20^th – Bo Armstrong                                                                        

28^th – Emily Worner                                                                        

MAY 2014

4th – Taytum Sweetland

 11th – Madison Urbanec

 18th – Ethan Wibben

 25th – Henry McCalla

                                                                                   

                                                                       

April 2014 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1   Each Sunday Morning: o  Handbell Choir 8:45 o  Church School 9:00 o  Confirmation Class 9:00 o  Worship 10:00 o  Fellowship 11:00		1   6:30 Presbyterian Women	2 6:00pm Soup Supper 6:45 Lent Service 7:30pm High School Youth	3	4	5
6 5th Sunday in Lent   9:00am Communion Workshop	7   6:00 Scout Den Meeting 7;30 Pfaltgraff & Pfriends	8 12pm WSC Brown Bag Bible Study	9 6:00pm Soup Supper 6:45 Lent Service 7:30pm Jr. High  Youth	10	11   2:00 Wayne Women’s Club	12
13 Palm Sunday   One Great Hour of Sharing Offering	14   6:00 Scout Pack Meeting	15   12pm WSC Brown Bag Bible Study	16   7:30pm High School Youth	17 7:00 Maundy Thursday worship with communion	18 12:00 noon Community Good Friday Service	19
20 Easter Service with Communion	21   6:00 Scout Den Meeting	22   12pm WSC Brown Bag Bible Study	23   7:30pm Jr. High School Youth	24	25   Confirmation Class to Calvin Crest until the 27th	26
27   Highway Clean-up after worship	28 7:00 Session Mtg. (with confirmation students who wish to join the church)	29	30   No Youth Group   7pm Bingo Night

 

APRIL BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

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

                       

 

1        Genevieve McCalla, Jorge Dunklau

 4        Bev Beeson

6        Shari Dunklau

 8        Andrew Pulfer

 9        Kevin Armstrong

19     Taylor Racely

23     Jill O’Leary Scott

24     Gina McDonald

26     Phil Griess, Levi Heese

27     Stacey Alexander, Verianne McClain

29     Heidi Armstrong, Addie Murphy

30     Greg Bloom

 

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