Presbytidings – February 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……
“There’s a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens:”
Ecclesiastes 3:1
The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us that there is a time for everything, that change is always happening in the world around us and in our own lives. We live in a part of the world where we can mark time by the changing seasons, each day brings new challenges and opportunities. From the time we are born until we die, we change on a variety of levels, the cellular, the physical, the intellectual. Life is filled with constant change and it affects every area of our lives, our workplace, our homes, our social networks even the church. Seldom however, is change without some challenge; a kernel of corn planted in the ground must change from a seed, be broken open allowing a root, then the seedling and finally the stalk and ear to appear.
It’s no secret that most churches, no matter the denomination find themselves having to reassess their role in society. I recently read an article by Doug Powe and Ann A. Michel entitled “Five Emerging Trends Impacting Church Life.” Among the changes the authors noted was how the role of denominations continues to wane. Younger people are less likely to identify as Presbyterian, Lutheran or Methodist than persons 50 or older, they join not because of the denomination affiliation, rather it may be the mission of the church that speaks to their desire to “make a difference.” Church attendance patterns are changing, including those who self-identify as “regular attendees.” Regular attendance used to mean 3 to 4 times a month in worship now the average is twice a month. The aging and shrinking membership in churches has led to challenges in maintaining pastoral leadership in many churches. I thought an interesting point the authors raised was the loss of choirs in many congregations. The article noted this change may be due to a variety of factors; aging voices, fewer people willing to commit time to rehearsals and Sunday services; however, another consideration is generational and cultural changes in how people experience and consume music. What do all these changes mean, how do we address them, do we address them or continue to hold tightly to what we have always done hoping to get different results?
Congregational vitality is an area addressed by the PC (USA) Matthew 25 initiative and defined as follows; “Building congregational vitality by challenging congregations and their members to deepen and energize their faith and grow as joyful leaders and disciples actively engaged with their community as they share the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.”
How do you define a “vital congregation”? A vital congregation might be considered one with a large building and membership however buildings, programs and budgets are not the sole measure of a church. A vital congregation might be a group of 20 people actively engaged in working in their community, actively engaged in growing as disciples of Christ. A vital congregation is one with a vision of the future which they are working toward together. The Session’s embrace of the Matthew 25 initiative is our vision for the coming year. Help our leadership envision how can we as a congregation deepen and energize our faith and engage with our community, sharing the gospel of Christ in word and deed. How can we be more hospitable to each other and guests; how can we share about who we are and what we do? There are many questions and challenges to consider.
In a culture when fewer and fewer people are redisposed to find their way to church on their own it’s important we consider different ways of being the church. This might mean we try new things, new music, changes in worship. I know it’s a challenge to be open to change, I know the familiar is comfortable, but if your faith has guided you in life, if your faith has helped you walk through dark or challenging times, if your faith community has been encouraging and supportive wouldn’t you want others to experience that as well? The gift of faith should be shared, and we must consider that we may have to let go of what is comfortable to us to invite others into a space where they can be comfortable. This is not a new challenge this was the very challenge Jesus faced with the religious leaders of his day, the same challenge Peter and Paul faced in the early church as they talked about if Gentiles or just Jews could be a part of this new church. While we serve a faithful and unchanging, loving God, the world God created, and its people do change. The church, the body of Christ, follows Jesus’ pattern of being rooted in Scripture yet open to growing and changing.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
ASH WEDNESDAY
We will begin our Wednesday night Lenten services on February 26th, 7:00pm. We will have imposition of ashes. Please join us.
COMMUNION
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, February 2, 2020. Jim Curtiss will serve as the Communion Elder.
LOVE CARVED IN STONE BIBLE STUDY
Our latest Bible study will be meeting on February 5th at 2:00p.m. at Wayne Country-view Care. All are welcome.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS
- The Presbyterian Women meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 5th at 3:00pm will be held at Wayne Country-view Care on the assisted living side.
- Sewing Souls next meeting will be held on Feb. 19th at 2:00pm.
ROTARY BAKED POTATO FEED
The annual Rotary Potato Bake & Dessert Bar will be held Sunday, February 12th from 11:00am-1:00pm at the Wayne City Auditorium. Adults $6 ($7 at the door), Children (8 & under) $3. Hot dogs will be available for the kids.
FPC YOUTH GROUP
Our FPC Youth will be hosting a game night for people of all ages in Fellowship Hall on Wednesday, February 12th beginning at 7:00pm. Bring a friend, some snacks to share and enjoy a night out!
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY
Our presbytery will gather on Saturday, 2/15, beginning at 10:00am, at Lincoln, Nebraska.
SCOUTING SUNDAY
We look forward to welcoming Cub Scout Pack 174 to join us in worship Sunday, February 16th.
FPC OUTREACH/MISSIION SERVICES
Pastor Teresa will lead outreach/mission services at the following locations this month:
- WAYNE COUNTRY VIEW CARE You are welcome to join Pastor for chapel on Sunday, 2/23 at 1:30pm.
- WORD IN FAITH Pastor’s article for the Wayne Herald will appear in the newspaper on March 5th.
SESSION
The Session will gather on Monday, February 24, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
KIWANIS PANCAKE FEED
Be sure to attend the Kiwanis Pancake Feed at the Wayne City Auditorium Tuesday, February 25th from 5:00-7:00pm. $7 (advance) $8 (at the door) for adults and $4 for children (up to 10 years).
ASH WEDNESDAY
We will begin our Wednesday night Lenten services on February 26th, 7:00pm. We will have imposition of ashes. Please join us.
“Lent in Plain Sight”
Lenten Wednesday evening sermon series.
“God is often at work through the ordinary; ordinary people, ordinary objects, ordinary grace. Through the ordinary God communicates epiphanies, salvation, revelations and reconciliation” writes Jill Duffield in her book “Lent in Plain Sight.” Duffield included in her devotional book some of the ordinary objects Jesus would have encountered on his way to Jerusalem; dust, bread, the cross, coins, shoes, oil, coats, towel, thorns and stones. Each Wednesday evening following our meal we will consider these ordinary objects and how Jesus might have encountered them and what it means for us to encounter and see them in a new light. “Lent in Plain Sight” reminds us that God is active all around us if we open our eyes to see and our ears to hear, it’s often in the mundane that we hear God’s voice. Please make time to join us during Lent for fellowship and worship. It is a great opportunity to invite friends to join us.
February 26th – Ash Wednesday – Dust
March 4th – Bread
March 11th – Cross
March 18th -Coins
March 25th -Shoes
April 1st– Oil
April 9th – Maundy Thursday – Towels
LENTEN SUPPERS AND SERVICES
Our church family will gather for weekly suppers during Lent, beginning on Wednesday, March 4th, at 6:00pm. (Watch for the sign-up sheets on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.) Following the suppers, we will gather at 7:00pm for Lenten service.
LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT & EASTER
Observe a holy Lenten season this year.
- We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service February 26th at 6:30pm.
- Lenten services & soup suppers will begin weekly on Wednesdays, beginning on March 4–April 1st.
- Palm Sunday Service with communion on Sunday, April 5th at 10:00am.
- The Maundy Thursday service with communion will be held Thursday evening, April 9th.
- Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service with our traditional Easter Brunch beginning at 9:00am on Sunday, April 12th.
FPC ANNUAL REPORT
Our Annual Meeting was held on Sunday, January 26th. If you would like a copy of the report, you can pick up a copy on the Opportunity Table or contact Jenny at fpcwayne@gmail.com
FPC CHURCH DIRECTORY
The updated FPC Directory will be available on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall in February.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WAYNE
THE SESSION 2020
Elder Class
Scott McLaughlin (Property) 2020
Jim Paige (Property, Fellowship) 2020
Kent Pulfer (Administration) 2020
Jean Griess (Worship) 2021
Jane O’Leary (Outreach, Worship) 2021
Shari Dunklau (Discipleship, Worship) 2022
John Fuelberth (Property) 2022
BOARD OF DEACONS 2020
Karen Johnson 2020
Melissa Urbanec 2020
Misty Beair 2021
Karen Marra 2021
Amy Bowers 2022
Jan Liska 2022
COMMITTEES OF THE CONGREGATION 2020
Nominating Team: Phil Griess, Karen Johnson, Jan Liska, Ken Marra, & Kent Pulfer
Financial Review Team: Phil Griess, Joan Lage, & Gerard Ras
February 2019 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning:
· Handbell Choir 8:45 · Worship 10:00 · Fellowship 11:00 |
1
10:00am Homestead Clerk Training |
|||||
| 2
10:00am Communion Jim Curtiss, communion elder
“Get Your Can to Church” Sunday |
3
9:30am Wayne County Family Coalition 6:30pm Scout Den Meeting |
4 | 5
2:00pm Love Carved in Stone Bible Study 3:00pm Presbyterian Women 5:00pm Confirmation |
6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 | 10
6:30pm Scout Den Meeting |
11
|
12
10:30am WACAM 5:00pm Confirmation 7:00pm All-church Game Night |
13
10:00am Salvation Army Meeting |
14 | 15
Homestead Presbytery – Lincoln |
| 16
Scout Sunday |
17 | 18 | 19
2:00pm Sewing Souls 5:00pm Confirmation |
20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23
1:30pm Wayne Country-View Chapel |
24
7:00pm Session Meeting |
25 | 26
5:00pm Confirmation 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service |
27
|
28 | 29 |
Lector/Greeter Schedule for February 2020
| 2/2/2020 | Candyce Peitz | The Peitz Family | |
| 2/9/2020 | Phil Griess | Phil & Jean Griess | Bev Beeson |
| 2/16/2020 | Gail McCorkindale | The McCorkindales | |
| 2/23/2020 | Gordon Granberg | Babs Middleton | Karen Johnson |
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com
10 Jodi P.
20 Karen M.
25 Pat S., Gabriel P.
27 Jan L.
28 Amy B.
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.com/
Wayne Food Pantry: https://fpcwayne.com/food-pantry/
Wayne Coat Closet: https://fpcwayne.com/wayne-coat-closet/
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)
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First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 