Presbytidings – January 2018

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….

How did your 2018 start off? Mine was quite different than planned. I was spending vacation time with my parents in Red Oak, and we’d planned a few projects around their house as well as some sewing projects; however, Mother’s fall at home changed our plans. Instead of sewing and house projects the days were filled with medication and jumping numerous hoops to get the needed medical care and surgery. As a result of my mother’s fall my parent’s normal has been upset.

I write this first newsletter of 2018 while sitting in a hospital waiting room in Council Bluffs, Iowa. I wait with my father while my mother has shoulder replacement surgery. Waiting rooms are not unfamiliar to pastors; I’ve been with many folks in hospital waiting rooms and hospital rooms.  Generally in a waiting room you have plenty time to fill. I began to think about the situation my parents found themselves in and the others coming and going through the waiting room. No doubt all had found themselves dislocated, plans changed; the regular order of life disrupted whether by choice, or circumstance. It occurred to me that all the people in the waiting room are in various states of “dislocation,” waiting for the next thing, the next test or surgical procedure. Life is seldom orderly and neat, accidents happen, a frightening diagnosis or awaiting news of a  surgery are just a few incidents of dislocation, upsetting a person’s or family’s normal patterns.

The nativity story reminds us that times of “dislocation,” when things seem to be in chaos might just be the time God is moving, and doing a new thing. During Epiphany, which is January 6^th, the church celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men or Magi’s visit to the infant Jesus. While following the star the wise men were “dislocated,” their normal was upset as they traveled mile after mile, month after month to find the baby. They left homes, and probably families, in search of the one the prophecy foretold. Out of the chaos of their dislocation they found what they were searching for, the one who had been prophesied.

The Wise Men weren’t the only ones whose normal order of life changed. The Gospel of Luke tells us that after hearing the message of the angels, the shepherds left the fields and went into the town of Bethlehem to find Mary, Joseph and the baby.

Shepherds were often despised and looked down upon. In the 1^st century, culture moved forward after the announcement of the angels into the dislocation and were given a vision of the future, a holy mystery.

Mary and Joseph had gone to Bethlehem to register for the government census, they were far from home and the familiar when Jesus was born. In the ultimate act of dislocation God sent Jesus to earth not as a king but as a helpless infant. God often does the unexpected, sometimes it’s flashy like holding back the sea or gushing water from a rock. More often however it is a quiet in-breaking like a baby, bringing new hope to the world.  God was at work in the “dislocation” of the Wise Men, the Shepherds and Mary and Joseph through the birth of Jesus.

Seldom is a medical challenge, whether broken bones, surgery or any other challenging event something we look forward to. However even during my family’s time of dislocation I saw God at work through the help of friends and family, through the many prayers offered by my FPC family. I felt God helped us handle a difficult situation and moved us through a series of steps to just the right surgeon for the type of injury mother had. We had great post-surgical care and nursing. It can be a challenge to recognize God at work in our times of dislocation, however the interruption of our normal may be God moving in our lives perhaps through an unexpected star, maybe a choir of angels or a great doctor and nursing staff. So even with its challenges perhaps 2018 started off just right.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Teresa

 

COAT CLOSET OPEN SATURDAY

The deacons will be opening the Coat Closet this Saturday, January 6, from 9:00-11:00am to the Wayne Community. We thank them for making this ministry available to individuals and families.

 

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, January 7. Misty Beair will serve as the communion elder.

 

PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS

The Presbyterian Pealers will resume practice this Sunday, January 7^th at 8:45am. We look forward to hearing more beautiful music this year!

 

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS RESCHEDULED MEETINGS

• To make it easier to get out in the cold and snow in January, the Presbyterian Women will have their potluck on Wednesday, January 10^th at noon, followed by Bible Study and our monthly meeting. Karen Johnson will lead lesson 4 of the Bible study.
• Sewing Souls will meet Wednesday, January 17^th at 2:00pm. Judy Lindberg will serve as the hostess.

 

CONFIRMATION RESUMES

The confirmation youth will resume their lessons with Pastor on Wednesday, January 10^th at 7:00pm.

 

YOUTH GROUP

The FPC Youth Group will also resume, Wednesday, January 10^th at 8:00pm.

 

SUPER SUNDAY SCHOOL!

The next Super Sunday School will take place Sunday, January 14^th 9:00am. You are welcome to come for fellowship and singing!

 

COMMUNITY CHAPEL SERVICES

Pastor Teresa will lead chapel services at the following locations this month:

• BROOKDALE CHAPEL Please feel free to join Pastor Teresa as she leads chapel at Brookdale on Wednesday, January 17^th 3:30pm.
• CAREAGE CHAPEL Pastor will also lead chapel at Careage on Sunday, January 21 at 1:30pm.
• RADIO DEVOTIONS Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of January 29-February 2 at 5:40am.

 

SESSION RETREAT

The session will meet Saturday, January 27, 2018 from 9am-1pm, which will include the new class of ruling elders: Glenda McDonald, Scott McLaughlin and Kent Pulfer. Our thanks to Shari Dunklau and Ronda Ras for their leadership as they leave the session.

 

DEACONS RETREAT

The deacons will meet with the session on Saturday, January 27^th at a time yet to be determined. 2018 Deacons include: Karen Marra, Jill Sweetland, Jan LIska, Jackie Owens, Karen Johnson and Melissa Urbanec.

ANNUAL MEETING – Sunday, 1/28/2018

Our annual congregational meeting will be after worship on Sunday, January 28. Session leaders responsible for a particular ministry (e.g., music, nominating, church school, property) need to submit a brief report to the church office (fpcwayne@gmail.com) by Monday, 1/22/2018.

 

WAYNE FOOD PANTRY

We had another busy year at the Food Pantry. We are so thankful for the many donations that were made. We had238 visits to the Food Pantry in 2017, and distributed over 3500 backpacks to the Wayne Community Schools.

 

CITY FUND PROVIDED BACK PACK

The Wayne Food Pantry recently received funds that allowed us to provide approximately 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 donations to the Wayne Food Pantry/Backpack Program and the City’s Trust & Agency Account, which 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 Wayne Community the City of Wayne and the Estate on behalf of the children of Wayne.

 

MANY THANKS!

Dear FPC family,

Thank you for the generous Christmas gift from the congregation as well as the many cards, good wishes and other gifts and remembrances I received this Christmas season. Your thoughtfulness is exceeded only by your generosity. I am pleased and honored to be your Pastor. May 2018 be a year of growth and excitement for First Presbyterian as we follow the Triune God together.

Grace and peace, Pastor Teresa

 

Many thanks to my church family for your generosity this Christmas season. I am very grateful for your gifts and support. Jenny

 

Thank-you to the Session, the Hammer family, John and Anita Fuelberth and the congregation for all the support and prayers during my recent family emergency. My mother breaking her shoulder was not on the to-do list for our time together. While it was a difficult situation I appreciated the Session’s grace in allowing me to stay an extra week while mother awaited surgery. I also appreciated the many texts, cards and acknowledges of prayers being offered on her behalf. Surgery was successful and rehab will take time but I think we have “turned the corner” as they say.  A few more bumps and then she can concentrate on healing, I would appreciate your continued prayers for both my parents.   Thank-you to each of you, you have been such blessings in this challenging time.

With deepest appreciation, Pastor Teresa

 

CHURCH RUSTIC TREASURE ACCOUNTS

First Presbyterian Church #1220                Wayne Food Pantry #442

 

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

• Our unchurched neighbors
• All who are battling illness
• All who live in care centers
• Peace in the Middle East
• Persecuted Christians in Egypt, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and North Korea
• Our confirmation youth and mentors (Madison Urbanec & Shari Dunklau, Braydn McCorkindale & Jim Paige, Taytum Sweetland & Ronda Ras)
• Our Session Members: Misty Beair, Gail McCorkindale, Jay O’Leary, Jim Curtiss, Jim Paige, Kevin Peterson, Glenda McDonald, Scott McLaughlin, and Kent Pulfer
• Our Deacons: Karen Marra, Jill Sweetland, Jan Liska, Jackie Owens, Karen Johnson, and Melissa Urbanec
• Our Pastor, Teresa Bartlett and her family

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

 

THE 2018 LECTOR, ACOLYTE, GREETER SCHEDULE will be available on the Opportunity Table later this month.  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!

 

Lector/Greeter Schedule for January 2018

1/7/2018	Melissa Urbanec	The McLaughlins	Kevin Peterson
1/14/2018	Phil Griess	Phil & Jean Griess	Karen Johnson
1/21/2018	Jim Curtiss	The McCorkindale Family
1/28/2018	Gordon Granberg	Jim Lindau, Joyce Reeg	Babs Middleton

 

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?

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

2        Larry Heese

5     Terry Beair

9       Jennifer Hammer

10      Emily Armstrong

11       Joyce Voyles

15      Haley McElwain

20     Kent Pulfer

24     Claudia Racely

27      Jim Paige

31       Elaine Francis, Shannon Peterson

 

 

January 2018 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: o Handbell Choir 8:45 o Worship 10:00 o Fellowship 11:00	1	2	3	4	5	6   9-11am Coat Closet Open
7 Communion	8 9:30 Wayne Co Family Coalition	9	10 Noon PW Potluck 7pm Confirmation 8pm Youth Group	11	12	13
14 9am Super Sunday School!	15	16	17 2pm Sewing Souls 3:30 Brookdale Chapel 7pm Confirmation	18	19	20
21 Careage Chapel 1:30pm	22 Session & Deacon Leader reports due	23	24 7pm Confirmation 8pm Youth Group	25	26	27 9am Session Retreat
28 FPC Annual Meeting after Worship	29 KTCH devotions 5:40am	30 KTCH devotions 5:40am	31 KTCH devotions 5:40am 7pm Confirmation	1 KTCH devotions 5:40am	2 KTCH devotions 5:40am

 

 

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