Presbytidings – October 2020
The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church
216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787
(402) 375-2669 + http://www.fpcwayne.com
“Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy God forever.”
From the Pastor……
The maple tree down the street from my house is putting on quite a show with its colorful orange foliage. The tree is consistently the first in the neighborhood to color and drop its leaves, marking the change from summer to fall. In a year filled with uncertainly and change it was wonderful to see something so normal and I especially appreciated its consistency and beauty this year.
Since March many of the markers of times and seasons such as proms, graduations, camps, visiting family, worship and even vacations have been upended by COVID 19. We lament the changes in our lives, events that haven’t happened, changes in how we socialize with each other and even how we worship. It’s not been easy to change our patterns and habits, learning to be cautious about a virus we can’t see but which can be deadly. We lament the irregularity of our lives the constant shifting and adapting, we desperately want to get back to normal. In many ways we can identify with the author of Psalm 13 who wrote.
1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me.
Yes, we wrestle with our thoughts and grieve the changes in our lives, and we may even feel we’ve been abandoned by God. Frustrated as we are that we must curtail hugging and handshakes, wear masks and social distance, worship without singing, God has not abandoned us. Like the psalmist we need to reflect and remember God’s presence with us. We need to trust in God’s unfailing love and promise of salvation. Remember God’s love and blessings during other hardships and dark times because it’s often not until we reflect on those challenges that we can discern God’s presence with us.
Unlike the summer season, this season of pandemic is not yet over. We pray for the success of scientists and researchers for a vaccine and drugs to treat people. So, we wait, not without hope, remembering that even in times when we are frustrated that we are not left alone. A good verse to memorize or put on the fridge in these days might be Deuteronomy 31:8, The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” In a year of remarkable change put your faith in the one who is unchangeable and eternally faithful, our Triune God.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
HOMESTEAD PW ZOOM FALL GATHERING: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2020
Fill your favorite tea cup and join us on October 3rd for a morning shared with your PW sisters. We will have an informal chat from 8:30 – 9:00 then start the program at 9:00am. We should be done before we all need lunch around 11:00.
Homestead Presbytery is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Presbyterian Women Fall Gathering
Time: Oct 3, 2020 08:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 898 6255 8648
Passcode: 959683
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Meeting ID: 898 6255 8648
Passcode: 959683
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbExJmXF8R
“INTO THE LIGHT: FINDING HOPE THROUGH PRAYERS OF LAMENT” PW 2020-2021 BIBLE STUDY
The 2020–2021 PW/Horizons Bible Study is “Into The Light; Finding Hope Through Prayers of Lament.” This nine-lesson study, by author Lynn Miller revives lament as a proper theological response to the difficult situations of our world. One of the foundational points of the study is that, in scripture, lament usually leads to hope. After crying out to God, the one who laments remembers God. And while that doesn’t fix things in the moment—the injustice, the loss still exists—the lamenter is strengthened to face the world and to hope. And for us as Christians, hope is not just an emotional response or an attitude of pie in the sky. Hope implies movement: both God’s inherent movement toward justice and our movement toward God. Recovering lament may be one of the church’s most timely gifts to the world.”
You can learn more about the Bible Study at https://www.presbyterianwomen.org/bible-study/
The Bible study is available for $10.00 plus shipping. You can purchase on line at www.presbyterianwomen.org/shop or call 800/533-4371, Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM EST.
WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4th
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together on Sunday, October 4. It is World Communion Sunday, a day when we share the Bread of life and the Cup of salvation alongside Christians in all different traditions, around the world. The communion elder is Jean Griess.
STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN – OCTOBER 18-November 2, 2020
FPC Stewardship’s Campaign will begin October 18th and run through November 2nd. During this time you will receive a mailing from the financial secretary and the Session. It is hoped that you will reflect on the information you receive and consider prayerfully your continued support of First Presbyterian Church. In this most unusual year with many twists and turns we continue to be the church, meeting together in new ways and serving the community through the Food Pantry. Your support financially and with your presence and encouragement to our Deacons and Elders and staff are particularly important at this time.
PASTOR BARTLETT OUT AT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
The Pastoral Leadership Revitalization (PLR) program, made possible by a three-year grant, directed by the Omaha Seminary Foundation has begun. The program seeks to help pastors find a balance between personal and profession life as well as offers support in ministry. The PLR program focuses on first call pastors and those in small and rural settings. Pastors from the presbyteries of Central Nebraska, Missouri River Valley, Missouri Union and Homestead Presbytery have been invited to participate in the 3-year program. Pastor Bartlett was invited by the Homestead Interim Executive, Stephen Earl, to apply for Pastoral Leadership Revitalization Program and was accepted.
Each participant is assigned a coaching mentor which is a hybrid of a coach and a mentor, who will meet with participants in person or electronically monthly. In addition to regular interaction with a coaching mentor the program includes a variety of retreats. There is no expense to the churches, pastors or presbyteries as all expenses are covered by the grant from the Lily Foundation. The next retreat for Pastor Teresa is October 12th-15th, 2020. Sessions and congregations are encouraged to support their pastors participating in the program.
FALL DECORATING
If you would like to provide pumpkins, gourds or other fall decorations (artificial or real) to use in decorating the sanctuary, please bring those items to church by October 6th and leave them in Fellowship Hall or with Pastor Teresa.
PASTORAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES
Pastor Teresa will lead pastoral outreach services at the following locations throughout October:
- WORD IN FAITH Pastor’s article for the Wayne Herald will appear in the newspaper on October 22nd.
- RADIO DEVOTIONS Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of October 19th – 23rd at 5:40am.
SESSION
The next session meeting will be held on Monday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
LECTORS & GREETERS NEEDED!
As with many things COVID has upset our regular schedule of lectors and greeters. We need volunteers to fill in these positions. You can lector via Zoom if you choose to however, we need in person greeters. Please consider if you can assist in either of these roles and contact Jenny to volunteer. Thanks for your assistance.
LIFE CHAIN IN WAYNE
The National Life Chain was started in 1987 by a small Pro-life ministry called Please Let Me Live. Every first Sunday of October, Life Chain invites various churches and congregations across the U.S. and Canada to stand on designated sidewalks for an hour to pray and be a witness for the defenseless unborn. Here, in Wayne, we gather at 2:30 p.m. on the northeast corner of 7th & Main Sts. to pick up signs and then fan out on the sidewalks to form a cross. No need to wear a mask while standing & praying; we will be 20′ apart. Bring a lawn chair if you need to and bringing a friend is great, too!
Wayne Food Pantry, School Backpack Program Benefit From Runza Feeds The Need Fundraiser
BY Aaron Scheffler, KTCH/KCTY, | September 25, 2020
WAYNE – The Third annual Runza Feeds the Need Fundraiser was held Tuesday, September 22, 2020 where 10% of sales were donated to local pogroms focusing on youth hunger & food insecurity. Locally, the Wayne Food Pantry and School Backpack Program will receive $354.09 from this fundraiser.
The food pantry is a nondenominational group of volunteers and it’s housed in the basement of the First Presbyterian Church located at 216 West 3rd Street. Jodi Pulfer is a volunteer at the food pantry. She stated the group is completely community funded. “We want to thank the community because we’re 100% sponsored by the community,” said Pulfer. “We receive no grants or outside funding. Everything we that have comes from the local community’s donations.”
The goal of the food pantry is to help individuals and families through rough spots in their lives by supplying them with approximately a month’s supply of food. Last year, the Wayne Food Pantry served nearly 1,200 people and 307 households. As of Tuesday, September 22 the group has served 600 people and 161 households in 2020. The pantry may be used up to three times per year by a client.
The Wayne County Food Pantry also helps the Wayne Community Schools deliver Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets of food.
The Wayne County Backpack Program began in April of 2013 to assist families whose children may experience food scarcity on the weekends or may have children home alone. “We accept donations of any single serve items,” Pulfer added. “They cannot be homemade prepared. They must be something that small child can eat on their own.” From late August through late September, the distribution of backpacks has grown from 59 to 143. Sites being delivered to include the Early Learning Center, Elementary, Junior High, High School, St. Mary’s and Tower School. Letters were sent to families of the Wayne Community Schools school system inviting them to participate. The program, which is completely sponsored by the donations to the Wayne County Food Pantry that are specific to the Backpack Program, provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for children when school lunch and breakfast is unavailable on a weekend.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Daylight Saving Time will end on Sunday, November 1, at 2:00am. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour, or you’ll have plenty of time for solitary meditation in the sanctuary!
OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
5 Dale J.
8 John F.
10 Brook B.
18 Ron C.
20 Braydn Mc.
21 Rob S.
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October 2020 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Sunday Morning Worship 10:00am | 1 | 2 | 3 8:30am PW Fall Gathering via Zoom | |||
| 4 World Communion Day (Communion Elder – tba) | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 10:00am Salvation Army Mtg. | 9 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 (Pastor out – retreat) | 13 (Pastor out – retreat) | 14 (Pastor out – retreat) | 15 (Pastor out – retreat) | 16 4:30pm Coat Fair Set-up at High School | 17 10:30am Coat Closet Coat Fair at High School |
| 18 | 19 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 20 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 21 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 22 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living Word in Faith runs in Wayne Herald | 23 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 24 |
| 25 | 26 7:00pm Session | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
Contact Information:
First Presbyterian Church
216 W. Third Street
Wayne NE 68787
FPC Office/Wayne Food Pantry/Coat Closet
402-375-2669
Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 12 noon
Pastor Teresa Bartlett
402-375-2669 (office)
319-795-2911 (cell)
Websites:
Church: https://fpcwayne.com/
Wayne Food Pantry: https://fpcwayne.com/food-pantry/
Wayne Coat Closet:
https://fpcwayne.com/wayne-coat-closet/
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First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne Food Pantry – Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne Coat Closet – First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 