Presbytidings – January 2019

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….

Unlike Luke’s account of the nativity his account of Jesus’ dedication at the temple, found in Luke 2:22-40, doesn’t get much attention. Mary and Joseph have taken Jesus to the temple for his dedication and while there encounter Simeon and Anna. The young couple’s attention to religious practices shows they want to continue in the traditions of their faith. Mary and Joseph’s encounter with two of God’s faithful, Simeon and the prophetess Anna, was surprising for everyone.

Simeon had been promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Simeon and Anna are up in years and had been faithful and dedicated serving and praying at the temple as they awaited the promised Messiah. I once heard a pastor comment that Anna and Simeon spent those years “leaning into the promises of God.”

After years of waiting, Anna and Simeon were pleased that their faithfulness and dedication had been rewarded by being able to see and hold the promised Messiah. Anna in particular told anyone who would listen that this baby was something special, one who would bring change into their midst.

Simeon rejoiced that God’s promise to him had been fulfilled but the words he shared with Mary remind us that not all promises are easy. Simeon said to Mary; “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”^[*] These don’t sound like easy promises, indeed leaning into God’s promises isn’t always easy because the promise is not always fulfilled as we hope and other times is it fulfilled beyond our imagination.

Change is often hard, yet like Simeon and Anna we must lean into change. We must adapt to the changes in our churches, our culture and we must work as we wait in hope and anticipation of how God is moving. Young or old we must trust God’s promise of faithfulness to us as we live into the changes.

Every congregation has people like Simeon and Anna. People who help with every event, who worship faithfully, who make sacrifices for their church, pray for their church family and their community, folks who “lean into the promises of God.” When I think about “leaning into the promises of God” I think of one who is rooted in God’s Word and promises, and yet open to new things.

It can be mind-numbing to think of the changes that have happened in the last 50 years. These days the church no longer holds the same societal position it did in the 50’s and 60’s and while some my bemoan that shift I think it gives us opportunity and challenge. Opportunity to see things in a new way, to “lean into the promises of God.” The church, individually and collectively, faces challenges. It is no easy task to break through some of our societal barriers, like reaching out in a culture that is increasingly unchurched. Challenge as well as opportunity to reach two generations, sometimes even three generations that have had no contact with church. Churches face  challenges from maintaining buildings to pastoral leadership coupled with the challenges of remaining vital and connected to their communities are but a few of the challenges most churches face.

The Presbyterian Church as a denomination is also “leaning into God’s promises”.  Organizational changes are happening at our national offices as well as refocusing on outreach and mission. Here in Homestead Presbytery the leadership is planning a Day of Discernment on January 26^th to discuss some changes the presbytery is facing.  The executive Presbyter, Dr.  Richard Wyatt, retired in August of 2018 so the Presbytery will gather to try to discern how to move forward. Some Presbyteries operate without executive presbyters; some are sharing an executive between two or more presbyteries. We are “leaning into change” awaiting God’s leading and promises.

We have numerous Simeon’s and Anna’s here at First Presbyterian; folks who through the years have “leaned into God’s promises” and who have poured out their lives in service to God and this congregation. Their efforts are so appreciated and have enriched the life of this congregation. We hope and pray to continue a fruitful ministry through which we can participate in positive change and growth not only in ourselves, our community as well as the larger world. We work together so that we can impact people’s lives for good, and share the love of God with others. As we enter 2019 with its newness and challenges let us like Simeon and Anna “lean into God’s promises” as we work together to proclaim the kingdom and wait in expectation of our Triune God’s promises being fulfilled.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Teresa

A NEW YEAR PRAYER

God of our lives, you will be faithful in time to come, as in years gone by. We praise You for goodness undeserved, and gifts received we cannot number. For life and health and loving friends; for work and leisure; for all grand things You give, we thank You, Lord God. Above all, we praise You for Jesus Christ, who lifts our hopes, and leads us in Your way. Praise and reverence, honor and glory, to You, great God; through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

PASTOR’S VACATION

Pastor Teresa will be on vacation through Monday, January 7^th. If pastoral services are needed, please contact our church office at either (402)375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com. Providence Chaplain Anna Speiser will speak on January 6^th.

COMMUNION

January Communion will be held on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Kent Pulfer will be the Communion Elder.

YOUTH GROUP NEWS

• On Sunday, January 6, 2019 the Youth group will pack backpacks after church. Each member should recruit at least one helper.
• Youth Group meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of each month at 7:30pm

DEACONS

The Deacons will meet Tuesday, January 8^th at 4:15pm in Fellowship Hall.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

PW will meet Wednesday, January 9^th at noon for a salad potluck & meeting.

SESSION

The Session will meet on January 19^th for elder training and planning for 2019. The retreat will be from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and include refreshments in the morning and lunch around 12:30 p.m.  All active Session members should plan to attend as we will be planning for Communion, monthly devotions, organizing Session teams as well as planning for events during the upcoming year.

SESSION & DEACON TEAM REPORTS DUE

2018 Session members & Deacons are reminded to compile a summary report for your area which will need to be sent to the office by Saturday, January 19th.

DOWNING OF THE BROWNS

Many hands light work! Please stay after fellowship on Sunday, January 20^th to take down the Christmas décor and put it away. Thank you.

FPC ANNUAL MEETING

Our annual congregational meeting will be after worship on Sunday, January 27^th. If you are responsible for a particular ministry (e.g., music, nominating, church school, property), please submit a brief report to the church office (fpcwayne@gmail.com) by Saturday, 1/19.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY DAY OF DISCERNMENT – JANUARY 26

All are invited to join in this day of conversation about the current and future vision and structure of Homestead Presbytery. The conversation is prompted by changes in the denomination as well as leadership changes. Homestead Presbytery Executive Richard Wyatt retired in August of 2018 and the leadership of the Presbytery wants to hear the voices of the congregations; elders and pastors about a new executive, a transitional executive or a new form all together. Deb DeMeester and Elona Street-Stewart from the Synod will be facilitating our conversation. Our hope is that this time of conversation, dreaming and input will provide a solid foundation for the Presbytery for the next five years as well as important guidance to our transitional executive. The event open to all is being held at Calvin Crest from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend; however, registration is required and reservations must be made by January 10^th, 2019.  If you are interested in attending please see the brochures on the Opportunity Table or bulletin board. Pastor Teresa plans on attending so carpooling is available.

WAYNE FOOD PANTRY

We had another busy year at the Food Pantry. We are so thankful for the many donations that were made. We had over 300 visits to the Food Pantry in 2018, and distributed over approximately 3500 backpacks to the Wayne Community Schools.

CHURCH DIRECTORY UPDATE

Please check the FPC Church Directory proof on the Opportunity Table for any corrections or updates to your listing. A new edition will be available later this month.

PORTALS OF PRAYER

We have added “Portals of Prayer” to our monthly devotional pamphlets, which are available in both the narthex and on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall. Portals of Prayer has been a favorite of generations of readers, a timeless daily source of strength and comfort since 1937. Each daily devotion includes a Bible reading, meditation and prayer to apply to your daily life, Please let us know if you like it, and also if you would prefer to see a larger print. We will be discontinuing “The Upper Room.”

WE ARE GRATEFUL

• The Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Philippi “Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it.” (Philippians 1:3-5 Contemporary English Version)
• I thank-you for the wonderful gift from the congregation, your generosity is deeply appreciated.  Thank-you to each one who sent a card or remembered me in other ways. The gifts I treasure most however are the gifts of friendship, your support and encouragement as we work together. I give thanks for the ministry we have to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Grace and peace to each of you, Pastor Teresa
• Thank you for your generosity this Christmas season. I am grateful for your gifts and support. Jenny

THANK YOU TO FPC YOUTH & LEADERS

Thank-you to all the youth who participated in the skit “It’s the Thought that Matters” on December 9^th. They did a great job and the skit reminded us that it’s not about the external trappings of Christmas, the decorating, the gifts but the internal preparation, preparing a place in our hearts to receive the Christ. Please be sure to thank the youth leaders for their work as well.  Gail McCorkindale, Ronda Ras and Jim Curtiss are the adult leaders.

THANK YOU TO CAROLERS

We had a group of about 15 Carolers on December 19^th who visited Brookdale, Careage and a special stop to sing for Jack Beeson in the Wayne Hospital.  After we completed our tour of town, we enjoyed soup, sandwiches and an assortment of desserts back at church. Thank-you to all who caroled and contributed to an excellent meal afterwards. Thanks to Jim Curtiss for organizing the event.

THANK-YOU PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS

If you missed worship on December 23^rd you missed hearing the Presbyterian Pealers share their talents.  The gathered congregation enjoyed many seasonal favorites during the service. There is a video posted on the church Facebook page of the bell choir’s lively “Joy to the World.” Please thank all the members of the choir for their dedication and especially director Jay O’Leary. The bell choir had been working hard to prepare for Ring Around Wayne which was to have been December 2^nd but was cancelled due to a snowstorm. The event will not be rescheduled.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

Thank you to all who provided poinsettias for Christmas Worship. They were a beautiful addition.

• The Abraham family in memory of Cindy’s brother, James Dean Saathoff and in honor of Airman Shea Jami Marla Abraham
• Pastor Teresa Bartlett in honor of Glen & Carolyn Confer
• John & Anita Fuelberth in memory of Elmer & Faye Peck, Dutch & Marj Fuelberth
• Phil & Jean Griess is memory of Harold & Elena Wagner, Wilmer & Elizabeth Griess
• The Hammer family in memory of Willis  Hammer, Mary Kay (Hammer)  & Greg Meeker, Arnold Hammer, Eugene & Nadine McDowell
• Ken & Jan Liska in memory of Jay & Donna Liska, Archie & Irene Kreycik, and Alex & Stella Liska
• The McCorkindale family in memory of John McCorkindale and Elton & Jean Bray
• Jane & Jay O’Leary in memory of Jay D. O’Leary and Jed O’Leary
• The Pulfer Family

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS

Thank-you to all who assisted in worship with the lighting of the Advent Candles

December 2nd – Phil and Jean Griess

December 9^th – Jill Sweetland, Taytum Sweetland and Amy Bowers

December 16^th – Mark, Jenny and Nina Hammer

December 23^rd – Layne, Tiffanny and Larry Hesse

December 24^th – Nina Hammer assisted Pastor Teresa

SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS

Several members of the congregation assisted the local Salvation Army Extension Unit by ringing bells the weekend of December 7 and 8.  Thanks to Glenda McDonald, Mark, Jenny and Nina Hammer, Jim Curtiss, Pastor Teresa, Josephine Peitz and Candyce Peitz.

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2019

January 6^th     Worship leader will be Rev. Anna Speiser.

January 13^th    Communion will be celebrated. Pastor Teresa returns from vacation.

January 14-18 Pastor Teresa leads KTCH radio devotions.

January 19^th    Session Retreat – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

January 22^nd   Presbyterian Pastor’s Northern Covenant Meeting – Wayne

January 23^rd    Rotary meeting in Fellowship Hall and Tour of the Food Pantry

January 26^th   Homestead Presbytery Day of Discernment, Calvin Crest 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

January 27^th   Congregational Meeting – following worship

 

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

 

A Prayer for the New Year

by Robert Louis Stevenson

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,

And teach us to be merry with clear hearts. 

May the new day make us happy to be Your children

And each new evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven. 

Amen.

Lector/Greeter Schedule for January 2019

1/6/2019	Jan Liska	Ken & Jan Liska	Jim & Shari Paige
1/13/2019	Gordon Granberg	Pat & Glenda McDonald	Karen Johnson
1/20/2019	Ken Marra	Kent & Jodi Pulfer	Ken & Karen Marra
1/27/2019	Jeryl Nelson	Jeryl & Rochelle Nelson	Jim Curtiss

 

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     Jenny Hammer

10     Emily Armstrong

11     Joyce Voyles

15     Haley McElwain

20   Kent Pulfer

24    Claudia Racely

27    Jim Paige

28   Jackie Owens

31     Elaine Francis, Shannon Peterson

 

January 2019 – 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 Pastor on vacation New Year’s Day! (office closed)	2 Pastor on vacation	3 Pastor on vacation	4 Pastor on vacation	5 Pastor on vacation
6 Pastor on vacation Chaplain Anna Speiser speaks Youth Group packs backpacks after worship	7 9:30 Wayne Co. Family Coalition   6:30pm Scout Den Meeting	8 4:15 Deacons Meeting	9   12pm PW Salad Potluck & Meeting 7:30 HS Youth	10	11	12
13 Communion	14 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living 6:30pm Scout Pack Meeting	15 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	16 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	17 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	18 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	19 9am-1pm Session Leadership Retreat
20 “Downing of the Browns” after fellowship	21 6:30pm Scout Den Meeting	22 11:00am Northern Covenant Pastors	23 7:00am Rotary meets at Food Pantry 7:30 HS Youth	24	25	26
27 Annual Congregational Meeting	28	29	30

 

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

 

FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 12 noon

 

Websites:

Church: https://fpcwayne.org/

Wayne Food Pantry: https://fpcwayne.org/food-pantry/

 

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne Food Pantry – Wayne, Nebraska

Wayne Coat Closet – First Presbyterian Church

 

Pastor Teresa Bartlett

402-375-2669 (office)

319-795-2911 (cell)

 

 

[*] Luke 2:34-35