Presbytidings – February 2016

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

Lent was a great aggravation to my mother.  “Presbyterians don’t celebrate Lent!  That’s a Catholic thing,” she would say.  “When did we start celebrating this Lent thing?!”  Mom was at least 6^th generation Presbyterian.  We have stood on the old family farm in Northern Ireland, and worshipped in the very plain Presbyterian church where we were related to half the congregation.  My family is old-school, Puritan plain, Presbyterian.  And anything that even sounded Catholic was anathema to my mom.

But times have changed.  When the Reformation threw out all of the rituals and observations of the Catholic Church, we limited faith to our heads.  We think deep and long about our faith, which is appropriate.  But we rarely sense our faith;

Smelling God’s presence in new-mown grass,

Tasting God’s tenderness in a sweet, juicy peach,

Hearing God stirring in the rustle of tree branches in the wind,

Touching God’s delight in soft kitten fur,

Seeing God’s power in a great storm.

As Presbyterians, too often we get caught up in thinking about God, about Salvation, about Forgiveness, and we never get past our thoughts into a deep dwelling in God’s presence.

This Lent, we plan to do exactly that – spend time in our Lenten Wednesday service savoring God, surrounding ourselves with the images of God that help us recognize him in all things, in every part of our lives.

Lent is a time of reflection, a time to consider our separation from God and how to decrease that distance.  That’s what sin is, after all – separation from God.  God seeks always to narrow that gap, by offering us grace upon grace, forgiveness overflowing.  God’s greatest desire is relationship with all of creation, and especially with the ones created in God’s image, US!

Relationships take time. Time spent in conversation.  Time spent just hanging out with the other.   Time listening, talking, being together.

Along with savoring God, and using our senses in the Wednesday evening services our Tuesday Brown Bag Bible studies will be spent growing our relationship with God.   We’ll take time to learn – and practice – different forms of prayer.

There’s nothing to read ahead, nothing to memorize, nothing to plan.  Just show up on Tuesday, or Wednesday, or both, ready to experience God and grow deeper in your relationship with the Holy.  See you there! -Pastor Sally

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, February 7^th.

LOOKING AHEAD TO ASH WEDNESDAY

Observe a holy Lenten season this year. We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service, in the fellowship hall, at 6:30pm on Wednesday, 2/10.

LENTEN SUPPERS AND SERVICES

Our church family will gather for weekly suppers during Lent, starting on Wednesday, 2/17, at 6:00pm. Following the supper, at 6:45, we will gather for prayer, song, and meditation.

Ecumenical Lenten Services

Ecumenical Lenten prayer services will be held on the first four Wednesdays (after Ash Wednesday) of Lent (February 17 & 24 and March 2 & 9).  The services will be hosted at a different area church each week and will begin at 12:00pm; followed by a light lunch.  The service will be about 20 minutes—so anyone coming who only has an hour off for lunch will be able to attend the service and have lunch in under an hour. A free-will offering will go to WACAM (Wayne Association of Congregations and Ministries). All are welcome!

The order and location of the services will be as follows:

• February 17—Our Savior Lutheran Church
• February 24—First United Methodist Church
• March 2— Mary’s Catholic Church
• March 9—First Presbyterian Church

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

Presbyterian Women met on Tuesday, February 9, at 6:30pm for a business meeting and a Bible study. Karen Johnson will be the leader and the hostess.

SEWING SOULS

Sewing Souls will meet on Tuesday, February 16^th at 6:30 p.m. Babs Middleton will be the hostess.

CHURCH SCHOOL UPDATE

Church School will continue to meet during Lent. Class will begin immediately after the soup suppers.

YOUTH GROUPS

High School Youth: 2/17 at 7:30-8:30pm. Jr. High Youth: 2/10 and 2/24 at 8:30pm-ish following confirmation. Bring a friend!  These times are estimates, as youth will begin as soon as the Lenten services end.

BROWN-BAG BIBLE STUDY

Join Pastor Sally for a Brown-Bag Bible Study, Tuesdays during Lent at 12:00, in the church fellowship hall.  Throughout Lent, we will be learning new prayer practices.  Come and discover new ways to grow closer to God.

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.

THE 2016 LECTOR, ACOLYTE, GREETER SCHEDULE will be available on the Opportunity Table next week.  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!

2016 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: Jean Griess, Karen Marra, Lindsay McLaughlin, Jackie Owens, Jill Sweetland & Melissa Urbanec.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY

Our presbytery will gather on Saturday, 2/20, beginning at 10:00am, at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Lincoln, for our first meeting of 2016. Pastor Sally will be attending.  Jim Curtiss will be attending for the Session.

CITY FUND PROVIDED BACK PACK

The Wayne Food Pantry recently received funds that allowed us to provide over 100 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. The money for this project was made available through the City’s Trust & Agency Account, and came from the M.E.Way funds. In 1962 the Mary Elizabeth Way estate requested that the money be put in an interest bearing security and the income from the investment to be used by the City of Wayne for the use and benefit of undernourished and underprivileged children of the City of Wayne. We thank the City and the Estate on behalf of the children of Wayne.

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 Sally 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

DEACONS REQUEST

The deacons are requesting donations of strong plastic and/or wooden hangers for the Coat Closet (no wire hangers, please!).

THE ANNUAL KIWANIS PANCAKE FEED

Kiwanis Pancake Feed with Sausage AND Eggs! Shrove Tuesday, 2/10, 5:00-7:30pm at the Wayne City Auditorium. There is a suggested donation of $7 for adults (in advance) or $8 at the door. Children (10 & under) are $4.

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• Our community
• Our schools and teachers
• Our unchurched neighbors
• All who are battling cancer
• All who live in care centers
• Peace in the Middle East
• Persecuted Christians in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea

 

February 2016 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: ·         Handbell Choir 8:45 ·         Worship 10:00 ·         Fellowship 11:00	1	2	3   Activities cancelled due to snow!	4	5	6
7  Communion	8	9 6:30 Presbyterian Women	10 6:30 Ash Wednesday Service 6:30 Church School 7:30 Confirmation 8:30 Junior High Youth Group	11	12	13
14	15	16 12pm Brown Bag with Pastor Sally 6:30 Sewing Souls	17 6:00pm Soup Supper 6:30 Church School 6:45 Lent Service 7:30 High School Youth Group	18	19	20
21	22 7:00 Session Meeting	23 12pm Brown Bag with Pastor Sally	24 6:00 Soup Supper 6:45 Lent Service 6:30 Church School 7:30 Confirmation 8:30 Junior High Youth Group	25	26	27 Uken Piano Recitals
28	29	1 12pm Brown Bag with Pastor Sally 6:30 Presbyterian Women	2 6:00pm Soup Supper 6:30 Church School 6:45 Lent Service 7:30 High School Youth Group	3	4 World Day of Prayer	5

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