Presbytidings – September 2017
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.
From the Pastor…
It is hard to believe we are approaching the nine month mark of our time together. We have been through a number of “firsts:” the first Lenten season, Palm Sunday and Easter. There are many more “firsts” to experience. I’m preparing for the first confirmation class. We are getting ready for a first in a new type of educational experience, Super Sunday (see the article about Super Sunday for more details). In the rhythms of the church year September and October are generally months for planning for the next year. Nominating Committees are activated and Session teams submit their budget requests in preparation for the budget for the upcoming year. This will be my first budget and planning cycle with the FPC Session and congregation.
During worship in September you will be hearing from our Session teams about their various areas of oversight and responsibility. I hope this will help all us of remember that our role as Christians and as members of this congregation is multifaceted. A church isn’t just a building, but the people and the work they do in God’s name. “You are the church, I am the church, we are the church together…” says the song and the proportion of what we put into our church, our energy, imagination, and financial support make a difference in each of us, our community and the world.
The constitution of the PC (USA) says that the church is called to be a community of faith, hope and witness. We develop our faith by our time in worship, in praying for and with one another. We celebrate in worship and stand with each other in times of grief. We deepen our understanding and faith as disciples as we participate in learning with others in study groups, PW or educational events.
We are called and challenged by Christ to be agents of God’s ministry and witness, a community of hope and witness not just for our members but in Wayne, America, Wayne County, northeast Nebraska and the world. First Presbyterian supports the Food Pantry, the Back Pack program and the Deacons Coat closet. Special offerings such as Christmas Joy and One Great Hour allow us to support those acting as the hands and feet of Christ in places we can’t go physically. It is important that as people of God we provide as well as support ministries in caring for God’s people, both globally and locally.
The church will only be what we, as individuals and a gathered community, with God’s help make it. I came across this poem several years ago, I don’t know the author but find it a great reminder that if the church is to be a community of faith, hope and witness it begins with each of us.
This Is My Church
It is composed of people just like me. It will be friendly if I am.
It will do a great work if I work.
It will make generous gifts to many causes if I am generous.
It will bring others into fellowship if I bring them.
Its seats will be filled if I fill them.
It will be a church of loyalty and love,
of faith, service and laughter if I,
who make it what it is, am filled with these.
Therefore, with God’s help,
I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things
I want my church to be.
This is YOUR church and it needs your support in prayer, in acts of mission and outreach, as well as your financial support. Let us dedicate ourselves to being the generous, loving, extroverted church of our Triune God.
CU on Sunday,
Pastor Teresa
COMMUNION
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together on Sunday, September 10th.
SUPER SUNDAY SCHOOL KICKOFF & SUNDAE SUNDAY!
Everyone is invited to church Sunday, September 10th for fun, education, worship and ice cream. That is the day the Discipleship Team kicks off its new educational program. The second Sunday of each month has been designated as Super Sunday which will be a time of learning and fellowship for all ages from 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. In September we will be meeting in Fellowship Hall, refreshments will be available beginning at 9:00 a.m., yes before worship! We hope you will join us at 9:00 a.m., don’t forget to bring the puzzle piece you received in worship or in the mail and participate in seeing how everything fits together.
Following worship we will gather in the Fellowship Hall for ice cream sundaes to finish off our Super Sunday. We hope you will save the date and plan to join us on September 10th.
WEEKLY FELLOWSHIP TIME RETURNS
One of the traditions of this congregation is a time of fellowship following worship. Due to a limited number of people signing up to take care of fellowship after worship the Session experimented during the summer with having fellowship only the second and fourth Sunday’s of the month. Recognizing the importance of a time of fellowship the Session voted at their August meeting to return to weekly fellowship after worship. Everyone’s participation is needed to make this happen with regularity.
You are encouraged to select a Sunday and sign up as Fellowship host, the signup sheet will be on the Opportunities Table. Fellowship hosts are to make coffee, it takes about an hour for the 30 cup pot, provide a cold beverage and a snack of some sort and clean up following the refreshments. Items for fellowship can include cookies, home baked or purchased, bars, cake, and fruit to mention a few items. Supplies such as napkins, cups and plates will be provided. You can host as a family or ask a friend to share in offering this hospitality. If every individual or family took a turn we could easily cover the year. Thank-you in advance for your ministry of hospitality to the congregation and our guests.
CHURCH PAINTING
Have you noticed how nice the church building is starting to look? The Session has hired Joseph Pearce Painting to paint and repair the trim on the outside of the church. Joseph Pearce Painting came highly recommended by Ken & Jan Liska, Pat Straight and Anne Nolte at First Realty. The last time the church was painted was in 2001, so there is a lot of repair and painting to be done.
The cost of this project is $50,500. If you would like to donate to this project, please feel free to make your donation by:
- putting it in the offering plate
- mailing it to Anita Fuelberth at
116 Maple Street
Wayne, NE 68787
- dropping it off at the church office.
Please note on your check that it is for the painting project.
So please forgive our mess for a little while longer while we bring our church facility back to the beautiful building our ancestors left us.
PEACE PRAYER WALK
You are invited to join the 2017 Wayne Peace Prayer Walk and pray with others for peace to begin in our hearts and spread through our community, nation and world. The walk will be held Sunday, September 17th and will start at 3:00pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 W. 3rd St, Wayne, NE. The group will proceed along a 2 mile route with stops for prayers at each of the churches along the route which includes: First Presbyterian, Calvary Bible Evangelical Free, Our Savior Lutheran, First United Methodist, Grace Lutheran and St. Mary’s Catholic churches. If you are unable to walk the route, you are invited to sit at any of the churches during the times of 3:00 – 5:00 PM where prayer booklets will be available for you to pray.
Psalm 34:14 says, “Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.” Please join together in prayers for peace with others in our community during the week of September 17-23 to observe International Peace Day which is September 21 this year. For questions about the Peace Prayer Walk, contact Julie Rother at 402.369.3822.
NEW OUTREACH PROJECT AT WAYNE STATE CAMPUS
Monday evening, October 9th First Presbyterian will be serving a meal for Wayne State students on the Wayne State campus. This is an ecumenical outreach project coordinated between area churches and gives FPC an opportunity to interact with Wayne State students. The meal is open to any student on campus past experience of other churches shows around 70 students attend regularly.
Interaction with students at Wayne State was an area of interest that was lifted up during Pastor Sally’s interim with this congregation. Volunteers will be needed to prep and prepare and provide items for the meal as well as to serve. The Session looks forward to an opportunity to interact with WSC students and build new relationships. This is a ministry of hospitality and presence with the students and we welcome all volunteers. Watch for more details mid-September as to material and volunteer needs in preparation for and serving the meal.
PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS UPDATE
It is time to begin thinking about the Presbyterian Pealers Bell Choir again. We will not actually start playing again until sometime in September, as our bells have been sent to the factory for refurbishing and won’t be back until later this month.
I would like to know who is planning to play this year. New players are welcome, and no experience is necessary. I have put a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall. Please either sign up on that sheet, or contact me directly at 402-369-2794. – Jay O’Leary
Ed. note – We look forward to having the bells back in worship later this fall!
FPC HANDBELL HISTORY
Thanks to Jane O’Leary for the following brief history of how FPC came to have a bell choir.
A church meeting, complete with refreshments, was held one evening in 2003 about the possibility of beginning a Bell Choir. Interestingly, there was no discussion about whether we would have enough participants for playing in a bell choir, although we did have several people who indicated they would like to try being part of one. The church made a commitment to raise funds for a bell choir, and one church member anonymously gave a donation to a large portion of the cost. It was also decided to purchase chimes to add color and variety to the bell set. When added to a bell purchase, they were a greatly reduced price.
After the bells were ordered, Jay O’Leary agreed to take on the task of directing the bells. He visited with several bell leaders in Sioux City as well as Wayne, and did a lot of reading about the techniques of a bell choir.
Over the years, there have been at least 30 people that have played in the bell choir. The first year, the bells played a couple of performances, but spent the most time learning the technique of holding and striking the bells. Some people did not know how to read music, but eventually were able to understand the process of playing the bells.
The bell choir now goes by the name “Presbyterian Pealers” and plays for a few Sunday Services, and at the “Ring Around Wayne” event that is held annually during the Christmas season.
CONFIRMATION BEGINS
The 2017-18 confirmation class will meet weekly with Pastor Teresa beginning Wednesday, September 20th at 7:00pm. If you have not contacted Pastor Teresa to confirm your child will be participating, please do so as soon as possible.
YOUTH GROUP MEETINGS RESUME
Please plan on attending the first gathering of the Youth Group Wednesday, September 13th from 8-9pm. Youth Group will happen every 2nd & 4th Wednesday from 8-9pm. The Youth leaders are Ronda Ras, Gail McCorkindale, Misty Beair & Jim Curtiss. Teaser! – Hayrack ride is happening 9/27/2017!
FOOD PANTRY & BACKPACK NEWS
We are gearing up for the new school year with the Wayne Community Schools Backpack Program. Last year we served nearly 3,800 backpacks to the Wayne community. In July, Launch Leadership (a high school leadership program from the Lincoln-Omaha area) came to pack approximately 400 backpacks for us. This program runs all year long, and so we are always in need of donations. Please contact Jenny at the church office or Jodi Pulfer for more details.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN
The Presbyterian Women will start the new year with a potluck on Wednesday, September 6th at 6:00pm, followed by a meeting to plan the coming year. All women are welcome. Come join us!
SEWING SOULS
- Sewing Souls will begin meeting again on the third Wednesday of every month. This month’s meeting will be held on September 20th at 6:30pm. We will be starting new projects as well as continuing with projects such as pillows & pillowcases for children at Providence Medical Center.
- Thanks to everyone who donated items to send to Camp Calvin Crest for the Annual Quilt Auction. Calvin Crest announced that they raised almost $20,000 this year.
CALVIN CREST QUILT AUCTION
The items sent to the quilt auction in August from the First Presbyterian Church and Sewing Souls raised over $350 for Calvin Crest this year. Thanks to everyone who donated items and to those who attended the auction.
Sewing Souls sent several items to the auction: kids quilts, table runners, crocheted hats, Christmas stockings, hot pads, pillow cases, and children’s travel pillows. Nina Hammer made a Thomas Train pillowcase with us and it raised $30 for the camp. All of our Sewing Souls had a part of making the quilts and table runners. The Quilts raised $25 to 50 each. The crocheted hats were a hit and sold for as much as $23 each.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN FALL GATHERING
All women are welcome to join the PW Fall Gathering at the Fremont Presbyterian Church, Saturday, September 30th from 8:30am – 2:00pm. Registrations are due September 25th, and the cost is $10. Please see the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall for more info or contact Judy Lindberg or Karen Johnson.
SESSION
The next session meeting will be held on Monday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
DEACONS MEETING
The Deacons will meet Tuesday, September 12th at 4:15pm.
THE POAM/OWLS FALL CELEBRATION: SPIRITUAL FRIENDSHIP
The Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry & the Older, Wiser, Livelier Saints (OWLS) Celebration at Calvin Crest will be held September 25-26, 2017. Please come and join friends and neighbors from across the Heartland for a two day celebration for older adults (50 and above). Overnight accommodations and great food are included. Check at our church office for details or go online at www.calvincrest.org
CHURCH RUSTIC TREASURE ACCOUNT
If you would like to donate items to the Church’s Rustic Treasure accounts, the numbers are listed below. Just take your item to the store counter, and give them the account number listed below. The proceeds will come back to us:
First Presbyterian Church #1220 Wayne Food Pantry #442
ALISSA’S WEDDING
We send our congratulations to Alissa (Johnson) and Travis Byrd on their wedding, August 11th, 2017. If you would like to send them a card, it can mailed to this address: 12764 T Road, Shelby, NE 56467.
WATCH FOR THESE OPPORTUNITIES!
Wednes., 9/27/2017 *Youth Group Hayrack Ride
Monday, 10/9/2017 *WSC Student Meal
Sunday, 10/15/2017 *Congregational Meeting and Potluck
Sunday, 11/19/2017 *Hanging of the Greens
PLEASE PRAY FOR:
- Our community
- Our schools, teachers & students
- All who are battling illness
- All who live in assisted living or care facilities
- Peace in the Middle East
- Persecuted Christians in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea
- Those impacted by Hurricane Harvey
FIND US ON FACEBOOK First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
Lector/Greeter Schedule
| Date | Lector | Usher | Usher | Usher |
| 9/3/2017 | Milton Owens | Jim Curtiss | Joann Proett | Babs Middleton |
| 9/10/2017 | Mark Hammer | The Hammer Family | ||
| 9/17/2017 | Jim Lindau | Jim Lindau | Joyce Reeg | John & Anita Fuelberth |
| 9/24/2017 | Sarah Wibben | The McCorkindale Family | ||
| 10/1/2017 | Judy Lindberg | Pat & Glenda McDonald | Jim Curtiss | |
| 10/8/2017 | Jan Liska | Ken & Jan Liska | Jim & Shari Paige | |
| 10/15/2017 | Jeryl Nelson | The Ras Family | ||
| 10/22/2017 | Glenda McDonald | Pat & Glenda McDonald | Kevin Peterson | |
| 10/29/2017 | Karen McElwain | Phil & Jean Griess | Joann Proett |
September 2017 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning:
o Worship 10:00 o Fellowship 11:00
|
1 | 2 | ||||
| 3
Communion – Misty Beair, Communion Edler |
4
Labor Day |
5 | 6
6:00pm PW Potluck & Meeting
|
7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10
9am Super Sunday! – don’t forget your puzzle piece! 11am Sundae Sunday |
11 | 12
4:15 Deacons Meeting |
13
8:00 Youth Group
|
14 | 15
|
16 |
| 17
3-5pm Peace Prayer Walk |
18 | 19 | 20
6:30pm Sewing Souls 7:00pm Confirmation Class |
21 | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | 25
7pm Session Meeting |
26
|
27
3:30 Brookdale Chapel 7:00 Confirmation 8:00 Youth Group – Hayrack Ride! |
28 | 29 | 30 |
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
6 Anita Fuelberth
8 Sharyn Paige
14 Angie Nelson
16 Marcile Uken
18 Jordan McDonald
19 Marilyn Murray
21 Jared Peterson
24 Jacob Pulfer, Misty Beair
29 Melissa Urbanec
30 Jared Yates, Madison Beair
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First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 