Presbytidings – April 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….
Easter Sunday was wonderful here at First Presbyterian as we celebrated Christ’s resurrection. The morning began with good fellowship during the delicious brunch served by the Deacons. Alleluia’s filled the sanctuary as we sang, prayed and worshiped together, it was a wonderful celebration!!
Sometimes the Sunday after Easter can be kind of a letdown; however, there is good reason to continue the celebration. Some early church theologians like Augustine, Gregory of Nyssa, and John Chrysostom, mused that God played the ultimate practical joke on the devil by raising Jesus from the dead, “Risus paschalis – the Easter laugh,” the early theologians called it.[*]
For centuries in many Eastern Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant churches, the Sunday following Easter was “Bright Sunday” and was observed by the faithful as “days of joy and laughter” with parties and picnics to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. In celebration of “Bright Sunday” churchgoers were invited to wear bright and colorful clothing to worship. The contemporary name for the second Sunday is Holy Hilarity and congregations may celebrate with practical jokes, balloons, and skits as well as singing and dancing.
Perhaps we don’t think often enough about how laughter should be a part of our faith. People may assume that clergy are to be stern, Christians are to be humorless, and God is never to be found laughing. Many people may view clergy, Christianity, and God as expressed in the following story:
“One day Groucho Marx was getting off an elevator and happened to meet a clergyman. The clergyman came up to him, put out his hand and said, ‘I want to thank you for all the joy you’ve put into the world.’ Groucho shook hands and replied, ‘Thank you, Reverend. I want to thank you for all the joy you’ve taken out of it.’”
Hopefully we don’t have the same view as Groucho of our faith and of Christians. After all the Christmas angels did not announce to the shepherds: ‘Behold, I bring you bad news of great sorrow for all the people!” The angels brought news of great joy to the shepherds. We have even better news at Easter, Christ is risen, death defeated and every day we can celebrate the joy of the resurrection.
In a recent article in Christian Century magazine entitled “The Jesus Who Laughed,”[†] theologian Miles Townes discussed reading the Bible by paying attention to Jesus’ humor as expressed in word plays, puns and irony in his teachings and parables. Often we miss these because the translation from the original language doesn’t always reflect the word play and puns and irony.[‡]
Remember how Jesus described the challenge for a proud, self-confident rich person to enter the Kingdom of God; he said it would be like a camel trying to go through the eye of a needle (Luke 18:25). Can you imagine Jesus’ audience not laughing as they tried to picture this in their minds? Jesus point was serious but he was using hyperbole, an exaggerated, humorous image to get it across.
When you think about a joke there is a premise and a conclusion which are usually held in tension; a good joke depends on our ability to see the difference between what is and what could or should be. It has been said a good joke in the moral sense depends on our ability to see the difference between is and should be; a good joke can help us see the distance between who we are and who we should be.
Who but Jesus ever saw so clearly the distance between is and should? Who else but Christ could grasp the gulf between heaven and earth? In Jesus’ words we can see our predicament; we are made in the image of God but separated by sin from God’s grace. Townes wrote “The idea that Jesus who bridged this divide might lack a sense of humor seems to me a stony-faced denial of Jesus’ humanity. Laughter is both human and humane, an essential tool to help us cross the distance to God.” God wants us to have joy; the psalmist says God “sits in the heavens and laughs,” God invites us to join in the heavenly laughter not just on Easter but every day.
April 8th during our Super Sunday gathering we will share stories, jokes and smiles as we are reminded that we should celebrate Christ’s resurrection and victory over death not just on Easter Sunday but every day. Christ is risen, don’t live another day as if Jesus were dead, let us be joyful and share our joy freely.
May your days be joy-filled,
Pastor Teresa
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN SPRING GATHERING
On Saturday, April 7th Wayne’s Presbyterian Women will be hosting area Presbyterian women for a Spring Gathering. Each spring there are one or more Gatherings in Homestead Presbytery for Presbyterian Women from different churches to worship, fellowship, and share ideas. Thurston’s Presbyterian Women will be helping us host. Come join us for fellowship and worship – registration begins at 9:00. The registration is $8.00 and includes coffee, refreshments & lunch. All women are welcome and encouraged to attend.
SUPER SUNDAY SCHOOL
Super Sunday School will be held April 8th at 9:00am in the music room. Please bring at least two Christian jokes for “Holy Hilarity Sunday.” During our time together we will look at humor in the Bible. We will share stories, jokes and smiles as we are reminded that we should celebrate Christ’s resurrection, the victory over death not just on Easter Sunday but every day. CU Sunday!!
(May’s Super Sunday School will take place on May 13th.)
DEACONS
The Deacons will meet Tuesday, April 10th at 4:15pm.
CONFIRMATION CLASS
Confirmation class continues to meet Wednesdays at 7:00pm.
April 4th with Kevin Peterson
April 11th with Jim Curtiss
April 18th with Misty Beair
April 25th no class
The confirmands will meet on Monday, April 23rd with the Session and Pastor at 7:00pm.
Our confirmands have spent the past eight months meeting studying and defining their faith and learning about the Presbyterian Church, USA. They’ve met with mentors, elders and deacons, and been involved in service to church by assisting with worship as lectors and acolytes. On April 23 they will meet with the Session, and on May 20 those who have decided to do so will join First Presbyterian Church. Please make it a point to celebrate this special day with them.
HIGHWAY CLEAN-UP
We will do our spring highway cleanup after worship on Sunday, April 15th (rain date: 4/22). Please wear your work clothes to church that day. We will depart after worship to our stretch of Highway 35 (markers 33-35 east of Wayne). This is a great time for families to do a service project together. With plenty of help, this project can take less than one hour.
SEWING SOULS
On Wednesday, April 18th at 2:00 Sewing Souls will meet to start new projects and continue projects such as pillowcases for children in the hospital. The hostess will be Joyce Voyles. Come join us no matter what your sewing skills are.
ELEANOR EDWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS APPLICATION DUE
The Eleanor Edwards scholarship application are due to the church office by Sunday, April 22nd. Scholarships will be awarded on May 6th, followed by a reception for the graduates.
SESSION
The Session will meet Monday, April 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Please submit an action items to Judy Lindberg or Pastor Teresa by Friday, April 13th.
PASTOR’S VACATION
- Pastor Teresa will be on vacation the week of April 24 – 30th. Gail McCorkindale will be leading worship service on Sunday, April 29th.
- If you have a pastoral need while Pastor Teresa is away, please contact the office at (402)375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com
YOUTH GROUP
Our church youth are hosting an inter-generational bowling party at Wildcat Lanes on Sunday, April 29th at 6:00pm. All are welcome to join! Please sign up at the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall so the right number of lanes can be reserved.
GRADUATION SUNDAY
Join us on Sunday, May 6th at we recognize our high school graduates. Shea Abraham, Beau Bowers, Madison Stenka and Sarah Wibben will be graduating from Wayne High, and Layne Heese is graduating from Pender High. Following the service, there will be a cake fellowship.
COMMUNION
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on the following days:
- Sunday, May 6th at 10:00am (Communion elder, Jim Curtiss)
- Sunday, June 3rd at 10:00am (Communion elder, t.b.a.)
EASTER SUNDAY WORSHIP & BRUNCH THANK YOU
Our thanks to everyone who helped to provide for the Easter brunch, and to all those who helped to serve, and to clean-up. The church was beautifully decorated. There were over 90 people in attendance at worship that day, and it was a glorious day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.
SYNOD SCHOOL
Want to go to camp as a family this summer? Plan to Join Presbyterians from all over the Midwest at Buena Vista College, in Storm Lake, IA July 22-27, 2018. Plan on a week of inspiring worship, educational speakers, arts and crafts, and lots of new friends for the entire family. There is programming available for every age and every interest. Want more information? Go to http://www.lakesandprairies.org/SynodSchool
SUMMER CAMP @ CALVIN CREST
Summer is coming! We promise! And what better way to spend your summer than going to camp learning about Jesus with friends? Calvin Crest is officially open for summer camp registration: http://www.calvincrest.org/summer-camp/ Pick out your week of camp and register your kid(s) or grandkid(s). Adherents of our church may apply for a scholarship to pay ½ of the cost of registration. Additional scholarships, based on financial need may be available. Please ask Jenny or Pastor Teresa for an application.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP
Have you lost a loved one recently? The grief can be hard to handle. Please consider joining the Providence Medical Grief Support group. We will meet Tuesday evenings (through 4/24) from 6:30-8:15pm. For more information call 402-375-4288.
FPC T-SHIRTS
We have three FPC t-shirts left in the office. 2-large, and 1-xl. These are available for $5 each. Please contact Jenny if you are interested in purchasing one (or more!).
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne Food Pantry – Wayne, Nebraska
Lector/Greeter Schedule for April 2018
| 4/1/2018 | Phil Griess | Jean & Phil Griess | |
| 4/8/2018 | Candyce Peitz | The Peitz Family | |
| 4/15/2018 | Jan Liska | Ken & Jan Liska | Jim & Shari Paige |
| 4/22/2018 | Bev or Jack Beeson | The Hammer family | |
| 4/29/2018 | Jim Curtiss | Milton & Jackie Owens | Jim Curtiss |
Lector/Greeter Schedule for May 2018
| 5/6/2018 | Madison Urbanec | Glenda & Pat McDonald | Kevin Peterson |
| 5/13/2018 | Madison Urbanec | The Urbanec Family | |
| 5/20/2018 | Jeryl Nelson | Jeryl Nelson | Jim L. & Joyce Reeg |
| 5/27/2018 | Gordon Granberg | Ken & Jan Liska | Jim Curtiss |
Lector/Greeter Schedule for June 2018
| 6/3/2018 | Sarah Wibben | Milton & Jackie Owens | Karen Johnson |
| 6/10/2018 | Phil Griess | Phil & Jean Griess | Kevin Peterson |
| 6/17/2018 | Glenda McDonald | Pat & Glenda McDonald | Bev Beeson |
| 6/24/2018 | Ken Marra | Ken & Jan Liska | Jim Curtiss |
April 2018 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1 Sunday Mornings:
o Handbell Choir 8:45 o Worship 10:00 o Fellowship 11:00 Easter Worship with Communion
|
2 | 3 | 4
1:00 Presbyterian Women 3:30 Brookdale Chapel 7:00 Confirmation Class |
5 | 6 | 7
9:00 PW Spring Gathering |
| 8
9:00 Super Sunday School |
9
9:30 Wayne Co. Family Coalition
7:00 Scout Den Meeting
|
10
4:15 Deacons Meeting |
11
10:30 WACAM at Brookdale 7:00 Confirmation Class 8:00 Youth Group
|
12
2:00 Darrow tunes organ
|
13
|
14
|
| 15
11:15 Highway Cleanup |
16
7:00 Scout Den Meeting |
17 | 18
1:00 Sewing Souls
7:00 Confirmation Class |
19
|
20 | 21
|
| 22
Eleanor Edwards Scholarship Applications Due
|
23
7:00 Session meets with confirmands |
24
Pastor on vacation |
25
Pastor on vacation (No Confirmation today) 8:00 Youth Group |
26
Pastor on vacation |
27
Pastor on vacation |
28
Pastor on vacation |
| 29
|
30 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
4 Bev Beeson
6 Shari Dunklau
8 Andrew Pulfer
9 Kevin Armstrong
23 Jill O’Leary Scott
24 Gina McDonald
26 Phil Griess, Levi Heese
27 Verianne McClain
29 Heidi Armstrong
30 Greg Bloom
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne Food Pantry – Wayne, Nebraska
Contact Information:
First Presbyterian Church
216 W. Third Street
Wayne NE 68787
FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:
402-375-2669
Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 12 noon
Websites:
Church: https://fpcwayne.org/
Wayne Food Pantry: https://fpcwayne.org/food-pantry/
Pastor Teresa Bartlett
402-375-2669 (office)
319-795-2911 (cell)
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[*] Joyful Noiseletter. (2018) https://www.joyfulnoiseletter.com/hhsunday.asp
[†] Townes, M. (February 28, 2018) “The Jesus who laughed”. Christian Century. 11-12.
[‡] Trueblood, E. (1964 ) The Humor of Christ. New York: Harper Collins Publishers.
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 