Presbytidings – March 2020
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……
The season of Lent began February 26th with Ash Wednesday. Christians around the world attended Ash Wednesday worship services where they received the sign of the cross on their forehead in recognition of their human mortality and sinfulness. During the forty days of Lent Christians are encouraged to engage in self- reflection, many add some form of spiritual practice to help them grow closer to God as they remember Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.
Lent is an opportunity to reflect on our lives as disciples, the direction we are heading and how we can improve our relationship with Christ. There may be times in our journey of faith that might be compared to driving down the interstate and realizing you should be going in the opposite direction or you missed your exit. Either case will require getting turned around. The immediate problem on the Interstate is that U-turns are not permitted and that is a good thing; imagine what it would be like if people were free to make U-turns wherever they wanted! No doubt there would numerous accidents and traffic would come to a standstill! The prohibition of U-turns means that one has to go a few miles in the wrong direction in order to get turned around and get going in a new direction.
In our Christian journey we may occasionally find ourselves going in the wrong direction, in places we never intended to be. In the Old Testament book of Hosea, the prophet tells the people their sinfulness has caused them to go in the wrong direction. The prophet says to the people;
Israel, return to the Lord your God, because your sins have made you fall.
Come back to the Lord and say these words to him: “Take away all our sin and kindly receive us,
and we will keep the promises we made to you. Hosea 14:1-3 New Century Version
During Lent Christians are encouraged to reflect on our lives as disciples, are we following Christ, have we made a wrong turn, are we at a dead end? Some of the signs that you are going the wrong way in your walk with Christ include not attending worship regularly, not taking time for personal Scripture reading and study, not joining in regular fellowship with other Christians. When we find we are going the wrong way, unlike driving on the Interstate, U-turns are permitted and encouraged in our journey of discipleship. In “church-speak” recognizing we need a U-turn is called confession, an important element of reformed and Presbyterian worship. Each week we come together before God and confess our individual and corporate sinfulness. In confession we ask God’s forgiveness, ask for God’s guidance and clarity of vision, strength to keep focused on Christ and not to take wrong turns or be frustrated by dead ends. Our Triune God offers each of us who humbly confess our sins mercy and grace and a new beginning. Thankfully for Christians U-turns are permitted, even encouraged, to bring us back to worship, to study and fellowship with God and other Christians. No matter how many U turns we’ve made or need to make in our lives we can be thankful that our Triune God is always ready to welcome wayward travelers’ home.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
LENTEN SUPPERS AND SERVICES
Our church family will gather for weekly suppers during Lent, beginning on Wednesday, March 4th, at 6:00pm. (The sign-up sheets are on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.) Following the suppers, we will gather at 7:00pm for Lenten service.
“I AM”
Lent Sunday Sermon Series
During the Lenten season we will be exploring the gospel of John, especially the series of phrases by which Jesus described himself. When Moses asked God, who he should say sent him to the Pharaoh, God answered in Exodus 3:14; “I am that I am.” The gospel of John records Jesus’ repeated use of the words “I am,” which points to his being divine. Seven times in the gospel of John Jesus uses the phrase “I am,” with each of the declarations Jesus completed a sign, a miracle. Join us for Sunday worship as we explore Jesus’ self-definitions and what he was teaching those around him as well as what it means for believers today. We will consider the seven “I Am” statements in the following order.
- “I am the bread of life” -March 1st
- “I am the light of the world” -March 8th
- “I am the door” – March 15th
- “I am the good shepherd” -March 22nd
- “I am the way, the truth, and the life”- March 29th
- “I am the vine”- April 5th
- “I am the resurrection and the life” – April 19th
PRAYER FOR LENT
-Author Unknown
Let me keep Lent.
Let me not kneel and pray,
Forgo some trifle everyday,
Fast-and take sacrament-
And then,
Lend tongue to slander, hold ancient grudge,
Deny
The very Lord whom I would glorify.
Let me keep Lent.
Let my heart grow in grace.
Let thy light shine till my illumined face
Will be a testament
Read by all…
That hate is buried; self-crucified; new-born
The spirit that shall rise on Easter morn.
Let me keep Lent.
COMMUNION
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, March 1, 2020. Jean Griess will serve as Communion Elder. Communion will also be served on Palm Passion Sunday, April 5th, 2020.
LOVE CARVED IN STONE BIBLE STUDY
Our latest Bible study will be meeting on Tuesday, March 3rd at 2:00p.m. at Wayne Country-view Care. All are welcome.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS
- The Presbyterian Women meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 3rd at 3:00pm will be held at Wayne Country-view Care on the assisted living side.
- Sewing Souls next meeting will be held on March 18th at 2:00pm.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME!
Spring forward one hour the weekend of March 8th. You might be caught walking into church just as worship is finishing up!
FPC OUTREACH/MISSION SERVICES
Pastor Teresa will lead outreach/mission services at the following locations this month:
- Brookdale: You are welcome to join Pastor for chapel on Wednesday, 3/18 at 3:30pm.
SESSION
The Session will gather on Monday, March 23rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
PRESYTERIAN WOMEN SPRING GATHERINGS: JOY COMES IN THE MORNING
You are invited to the PW Spring Gatherings as noted. Please bring your favorite tea cup. No reservations are needed.
- March 28th at Clarkson from 1-3pm
- April 4th at Lyons from 1-3
MATTHEW 25 PW SPRING GATHERING PROJECT: COLLECTING EMPTY PILL BOTTLES
Many times, the pills people in developing countries are wrapped in paper scraps. The pills have no protection from moisture or the elements. And they are not safely out of the reach of small children-you can’t really safety proof a piece of paper.Those orange pill bottles we take for granted are gratefully received in many part of the world.
Please bring your empty pill bottles with all labels removed. The Matthew 25 mission states “Our pill bottle program fulfills the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for our environment.”
CHANGES TO QUARTERLY AND YEAR-END STATEMENTS
The session has approved the sending of quarterly and year end statements by email. If you would like to participate please see that the financial secretary, Anita Fuelberth, has your current e-mail address.
THANK YOU
“I would like to thank the session and church congregation for the framed certificate & Chamber Bucks, as well as the decorated cake and coffee held in my honor. It has been a privilege to serve as the FPC treasurer for the last forty years, but I felt this was the appropriate time for me to step down as treasurer. Being treasurer of the church is one was that I felt I could serve the church although I never thought I would do it for forty years.” John Fuelberth
March 2019 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1
Each Sunday Morning: · Handbell Choir 8:45 · Worship 10:00 · Fellowship 11:00
10:00am Communion Kent Pulfer, communion elder |
2
6:30pm Scout Den Meeting |
3
2:00pm Love Carved in Stone Bible Study 3:00pm Presbyterian Women
|
4 | 5 | 6 | 7
|
| 8
Daylight Savings Time Begins – Spring Forward!
5:00pm Boy Scout Court of Honor |
9
6:30pm Scout Den Meeting |
10 | 11
10:00am Pastor at WACAM 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lenten Service |
12 | 13 | 14 |
| 15 | 16
|
17 | 18
2:00pm Sewing Souls 3:30pm Brookdale Chapel 4:45pm Deacons 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lent Service |
19 | 20 | 21 |
| 22 | 23
7:00pm Session Meeting |
24
11:00am Northern Covenant Pastors Gathering |
25
6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lent Service |
26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29
|
30
7:00pm Session Meeting |
31 | ||||
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 at 7pm 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.
Lector/Greeter Schedule for March 2020
| 3/1/2020 | Gordon Granberg | Phil & Jean Griess | |
| 3/8/2020 | Milton Owens | Milton & Jackie Owens | |
| 3/15/2020 | Jodi Pulfer | Kent & Jodi Pulfer | |
| 3/22/2020 | Maria Ras | The Ras Famly | |
| 3/29/2020 | Mark Hammer | The Hammer Family |
MARCH BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
24 Jacob B.
25 Leigh H.
28 Babs M.
29 Madison U.
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 