Presbytidings – February 2015

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

If you’re on Facebook, you probably started to see them popping up on your News Feed along about late December: “It was a great year. I’m glad you were a part of it!”

That was the default status for Facebook’s algorithmically generated Year in Review, highlighting random pictures you uploaded throughout 2014. But that review didn’t always go over very well, because, hey, for lots of people 2014 wasn’t a great year.

That was the case for Eric Meyer, who received a notification that said, “Eric, here’s what your year looked like!” And there, in the middle of the graphic was a picture of his recently deceased little girl, Rebecca, who died in 2014 at age 6 of complications from brain cancer.

Eric, who is himself a computer geek, says: “And I know, of course, that this is not a deliberate assault. This inadvertent algorithmic cruelty is the result of code that works in the overwhelming majority of cases, reminding people of the awesomeness of their years, showing them selfies at a party or whale spouts from sailing boats or the marina outside their vacation house.

“But for those of us who lived through the death of loved ones, or spent extended time in the hospital, or were hit by divorce or losing a job or any one of a hundred crises, we might not want another look at this past year.

“To show me Rebecca’s face and say ‘Here’s what your year looked like!’ is jarring. It feels wrong, and coming from an actual person, it would be wrong. Coming from code, it’s just unfortunate. These are hard, hard problems. It isn’t easy to programmatically figure out if a picture has a ton of Likes because it’s hilarious, astounding, or heartbreaking. Algorithms are essentially thoughtless.”

But we, unlike computer programs, don’t have to be thoughtless. I’m just like everyone else, because I don’t always know what to say to someone who is experiencing loss. Even with lots of practice and training, I still feel like I put my foot in my mouth. A lot.

But the important thing for those of us who find ourselves in that position is not that we say just the right thing (that’s always a long shot), but that we are present, that we walk alongside those people, that we offer support and compassion to the grieving.

Caleb Wilde, who is a funeral director in Pennsylvania and who maintains an enormously popular blog, Confessions of a Funeral Director, reposted this list from grief.com, outlining the best and worst things you can say to someone in grief:

The Worst Things to Say to Someone in Grief

1. At least she lived a long life, many people die young.
2. He is in a better place.
3. She brought this on herself.
4. There is a reason for everything.
5. Aren’t you over him yet, he has been dead for a while now.
6. You can have another child still.
7. She was such a good person God wanted her to be with him.
8. I know how you feel.
9. She did what she came here to do and it was her time to go.
10. Be strong.

The Best Things to Say to Someone in Grief

1. I am so sorry for your loss.
2. I wish I had the right words, just know I care.
3. I don’t know how you feel, but I am here to help in any way I can.
4. You and your loved one will be in my thoughts and prayers. (Or something like, “God bless you during this difficult time!” But avoid too much theologizing. –Ray)
5. My favorite memory of your loved one is…
6. I am always just a phone call away.
7. Give a hug instead of saying something.
8. We all need help at times like this, I am here for you.
9. I am usually up early or late, if you need anything.
10. Saying nothing, just be with the person.

Regardless of how you approach a grieving person, it’s important that you be sensitive, be supportive, be present, and don’t be thoughtless like a computer algorithm.

Pastor Ray

SESSION

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

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, February 1^st.

CHURCH SCHOOL UPDATE

Beginning Sunday, February 1st, Church School will return to the 9:00 hour.

February’s teachers are: Marta Pulfer and Lindsay McLaughlin.

March’s teachers are: Tami Worner and Melissa Urbanec

April’s teachers are: Marta Pulfer and Lindsay McLaughlin

WE STILL NEED TEACHERS FOR MAY!  Please contact Melissa Murphy at melissamurphy81@gmail.com and let her know if you would be willing to help.

LOOKING AHEAD TO ASH WEDNESDAY

Observe a holy Lenten season this year. We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service, in the sanctuary, at 6:30pm on Wednesday, 2/18. Throughout Lent, we will be following a DVD curriculum called “Listen: Praying in a Noisy World.”

LENTEN SUPPERS AND SERVICES

Our church family will gather for weekly suppers during Lent, starting on Wednesday, 2/25, at 6:00pm. Following the supper, at 6:45, we will gather in the sanctuary for prayer, song, and meditation. We will follow a DVD curriculum called “Listen: Praying in a Noisy World.”

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Presbyterian Women will meet on Wednesday, February 4, at 6:30pm.  Karen Johnson will lead the Bible study. Jackie Owens will be the hostess.

SEWING SOULS

Sewing Souls will meet on Tuesday, February 17^th at 6:30 p.m. Babs Middleton will be the hostess.

YOUTH GROUPS

High School Youth: 2/4 and 2/18 at 7:30-8:30pm. Jr. High Youth: 2/11 and 2/25 at 7:30-8:30pm. Bring a friend!

BROWN-BAG BIBLE STUDY

Join Pastor Ray for a Brown-Bag Bible Study, Wednesdays at 12:00, in the Goldenrod Room in the WSC Student Center.

THE 2015 LECTOR, ACOLYTE, GREETER SCHEDULE is available on the Opportunity Table.  As in the past, please find a replacement if you cannot make it, and contact the church office about any changes. If you would still like to be added, we would be happy to put your name on the substitute list.   Thank you!

THE CHURCH DIRECTORY UPDATE

Have you changed your phone number or moved lately?  Please use the update sheet on the Opportunity Table to make any changes to your current listing.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Happy tenth anniversary to Pastor Ray! He began his tenure at FPC on February 28, 2005. Pastor Ray is the third longest-serving pastor at FPC Wayne, behind Oliver Proett and Bob Haas. Congratulations!

2015 ELDER & DEACON LIST

Elders for 2015: Misty Beair (Discipleship), Jim Curtiss (Fellowship), Shari Dunklau (Memorials), Gail McCorkindale (Worship), Jeryl Nelson (Outreach & Stewardship), Jay O’Leary (Memorials & Stewardship), Ronda Ras (Outreach), Russ Urbanec (Property), & Greg Worner (Administration & Property).

Deacons for 2015: Connie Bargstadt, Jean Griess, Joan Lage, Lindsay McLaughlin, Shari Paige, & Melissa Urbanec.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY

Our presbytery will gather on Saturday, 2/21, beginning at 10:00am, at Heritage Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, for our first meeting of 2015. Pastor Ray will be going if anyone would like to tag along.

PRESBYTERY GRANT

The Wayne Food Pantry recently received a grant from our Homestead Presbytery that allowed us to provide 135 children enrolled in the Wayne Community Schools Backpack Program with a special bag to help them over the past Christmas holiday. We were able to purchase a loaf of bread, and a jar each of peanut butter & jelly for each child. Our thanks to the Homestead Presbytery!

SUMMER CAMP ONLINE REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

Camp is coming! Here are some camp things to think about, that will help you bear the cold weather:

• Camp for newborns through high school.
• Our church pays 50% for all of our adherents.
• Our church has several 100% scholarships for kids who wouldn’t otherwise get to go (talk to Pastor Ray confidentially!). Think about your neighbors and friends…
• Early bird special if you register before 3/15.
• Invite 3 (first-timers), go free.
• The best summer job you’ll ever have. Period.
• Volunteer opportunities.
• New pool!
• So sign up already!calvincrest.org/summer-camp

SERMONS ON THE WEB

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

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

TRI-COUNTY RIGHT TO LIFE BREAKFAST

The Tri-County Right to Life Breakfast will be held Saturday, 2/7 at 9:30am in Holy Family Hall at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.  Their speakers will be Brooke Jech, Senator Dave Bloomfield, and Greg Schleppenbach, Executive Director of Nebraska Right to Life.  All congregations are encouraged to attend.

THE ANNUAL KIWANIS PANCAKE FEED

The Kiwanis Pancake Feed with eggs and sausage will be held Sunday February 15th, 9:00 am to 12:45 pm at the Wayne City Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for children and are on sale from Kiwanians or at the door.​

FUNDRAISING CONCERT

Join the Front Porch Pickers as they perform a fundraising concert for the Wayne Association of Congregations and Ministers on Sunday, February 15^th at 2:00pm. The concert will be held at Our Savior Lutheran Church. Refreshments will be served afterward.

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 – FEBRUARY 2015                                                                                         

1st – John & Anita Fuelberth, Phil & Jean Griess

8^th – The McCorkindale Family

15^th – Jack & Bev Beeson, Mark & Jenny Hammer

22^nd – Jim Curtiss, Karen Johnson & Babs Middleton

GREETERS – MARCH 2015

1^st – The Heese Family

8^th – Jim Lindau, Joyce Reeg & Pat Straight

15^th – The Worner Family

22^nd – The Urbanec Family

29^th – The Pulfer Family

LECTORS – FEBRUARY 2015                                                                                         

1st – Pulfer

8^th – Gail McCorkindale

15^th – Ronda Ras

22^nd – Bev Beeson

LECTORS – MARCH 2015

1^st – Mark McCorkindale

8^th – Greg Worner

15^th – Jack Beeson

22^nd – Judy Lindberg

29^th – Phil Griess

ACOLYTES – FEBRUARY 2015                                                                                         

1st – Genevieve McCalla

8^th – Bralen Murphy

15^th – Nina Hammer

22^nd – Andy Wibben

ACOLYTES – MARCH 2015

1^st – Eleanor McCalla

8^th – Madison Urbanec

15^th – Braydn McCorkindale

22^nd – Bo Armstrong

29^th – Emily Worner

February 2015 – 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  Worship 10:00 o  Fellowship 11:00	2 3:30 Scout Meeting 6:00 Scout Den Meeting	3	4 6:30 Presbyterian Women 7:30 High School Youth Group	5	6	7
8	9	10	11 7:30 Junior High Youth Group	12	13	14
15	16 3:30 Scout Meeting 6:00 Scout Den Meeting	17 6:30 Sewing Souls	18 6:30 Ash Wednesday Service 7:00 High School Youth Group	19	20	21
22	23 7:00 Session	24	25 6:00 Soup Supper 6:45 Lent Service 7:30 Junior High Youth Group	26	27	28 Uken Piano Recitals

 

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?

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

7        Karen McElwain

10     Jodi Pulfer

20     Karen Marra

25     Pat Straight, Gabriel Peitz

27     Jan Liska

28     Amy Bowers

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