Presbytidings – May 2021
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 last year has been like no other, from the early days of COVID 19 through the height of the pandemic to having a vaccine widely available, each of us have encountered lots of challenges and change. The pandemic has required of everyone adaptation, patience and generosity. The pandemic has brought to mind how we enact Jesus’ words “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). During the pandemic we’ve been asked anew to consider the needs of others as well as our own, whether wearing a mask, postponing or shrinking an event, new and unfamiliar ways of worship, or getting vaccinated, practices we hope will protect our neighbors as well as ourselves and our families.
At every junction of change the FPC Session has been thoughtful and careful as they considered the best practices to keep our community of faith safe. The Session has looked to several sources for information regarding COVID practices including the local health department, medical and scientific communities, our denomination, our insurance provider, as well as common sense. The practices that FPC put into place; social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer, and no fellowship are intended to mitigate risk to members and guests. Good COVID practices also protect the church from litigation if someone were to contract COVID at a church sponsored activity. The practices are part of our due diligence. The Session is aware of what other industry, business, community and religious organizations are doing but must determine what makes sense in our FPC context. The leadership of the church determined what practices are appropriate for our faith community and will determine when the practices will be changed or modified.
The Session met recently to review our COVID practices. While there is generally reason for optimism with the vaccine, we must proceed with caution. Per the Northeast Nebraska Health Department website our district (Wayne, Thurston, Cummings and Dixon counties) as of Sunday, May 5th remains in the yellow (moderate risk zone). You can track the COVID statistics for our area at Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department: Home (nnphd.org), the information on the website is updated weekly. FPC will continue to maintain social distancing, wear masks during worship, and use hand sanitizer as long as we are in the yellow zone. The Session and I ask that you continue to participate in the practices that have been put in place to keep yourself and others safe during worship. The Session will continue to reassess the information from the NE Nebraska Health Department, the CDC and other sources for recommendations and best practices.
It has been a long and challenging year with many frustrations. I know of some churches in the denomination who have not yet returned to in person worship. I’m thankful our hybrid worship allows those who feel comfortable worshiping in person to participate as well those who for various reasons are unable to worship in person to join in praising God.
I know the practices of social distancing, sanitizing, and mask wearing impact the spirit and flow of our worship; however, I’m pleased we have not had anyone sickened with COVID because of being in worship. While not everyone likes wearing masks for indoor worship it is considered a best practice. The Session and I ask for your continued patience and participation with these established practices it takes all of us working together to keep everyone safe and healthy. The Session and I are hopeful that by the first of June we might be in an improved situation in our Health District. While the number of people vaccinated grows it may be tempting let down our guard however, let us be diligent in continuing our COVID practices as a visible sign of our love and commitment for each other.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
Mother’s Day – May 9th
Thank-you to every woman for the many roles you play whether as mother, spouse, employee, employer, mentor, grandmother, friend, role model, spiritual friend. Not all women are mothers, but all of us have a mother – if your mother has been an example of faith and grace in your life give thanks and let her know how much you appreciate her. If this Mother’s Day you are missing a special woman in your life- give thanks for all that woman was to you, whether she was a wife, teacher, grandmother, mother or friend. Each of us, women and men should do our best to reflect the love and grace of God to those around us.
Presbyterian Women’s Spring Gathering
May 15th – 9:00 to Noon
All women are invited to the PW Spring Gathering to be held via Zoom May 15th. Informal check in and chat will be from 8:30 to a.m. to 9:00 a.m. We will hear from Elona Street-Stewart, the General Assembly Co-Moderator, as well as from the PW Synod Moderator, Sue Medsker. The theme for the day is “Courage in Times of Uncertainty.” Pastor Teresa will be giving the meditation. There will be a preview of the new Bible Study, What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus written by Merryl Blair. The new book list will be previewed and reading awards presented. Mission opportunities will be discussed with a focus on supporting women’s shelters in our communities. Join the meeting to hear about plans for a fall tour of the Presbytery. If you would like to participate join us at church between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15th.
Homestead Presbytery Meeting
May 20th, 2021
Via Zoom beginning at 10:00 a.m..
Congratulations to our FPC 2021 Graduate
Maria Ras
Make plans to be in church on Sunday, May 23rd for a graduate recognition and presentation of the Eleanor Edwards scholarship. Our 2021 graduate is Maria Ras who will graduate from Bancroft-Rosalie High School and plans to attend Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, majoring in Elementary Education. Maria will also play softball for the Morningside Mustangs.
Congratulations also to Aaron Ras who graduated from Wayne State College with a major in psychology and with minors in sociology and exercise science.
May Session meeting
The Session will be meeting on May 24th at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Jean Griess has devotions for the
May meeting. The June communion elder is Jane O’Leary.
Roadside Clean-up a Success
Thank you to Joh Fuelberth for organizing the 2021 Roadside Clean-up event. Thanks to each of the volunteers who helped: Mark & Nina Hammer; Jeryl and Rochelle Nelson; Dave, Candyce, Solomon & Gabriel Peitz; Kent & Jodi Pulfer and John Fuelberth.
Presbyterian Women
At the April PW meeting those present decided to donate $500 to the Providence Medical Center Foundation. The money will be used to purchase needed equipment for the new ambulance. We are grateful that we are able to support our community in this way.
Sign up for Lawn Mowing
We will need one or two people to mow each week. If you can share in this effort, please sign up via the email Google document, sign-up on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall or call the church office.
Lawn Mowing Sign-up 2021
Week: Name:
| Week of May 3, 2021 | Mark Hammer |
| Week of May 10, 2021 | The Sweetlands |
| Week of May 17, 2021 | The Sweetlands |
| Week of May 24, 2021 | Ethan Wibben |
| Week of May 31, 2021 | |
| Week of June 7, 2021 | |
| Week of June 14, 2021 | |
| Week of June 215, 2021 | |
| Week of June 28, 2021 |
May 2021 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1 | ||||||
| 2 10:00am Worship with Communion | 3 | 4 | 5 2:00pm Presbyterian Women | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 9 10:00am Worship | 10 | 11 9:30 Community Response Meeting via Zoom | 12 10:30 WACAM Meeting 3:30pm Brookdale Chapel | 13 11:00am Salvation Army Meeting | 14 11:00am Fire Extinguisher inspection | 15 8:30am PW Spring Gathering Via Zoom |
| 16 10:00am Worship | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 9:00am Homestead Presbytery via Zoom | 22 | 22 |
| 23 10:00am Worship with Graduate Recognition | 24 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living 7:00pm Session Meeting | 25 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 26 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 27 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 28 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 29 |
| 30 10:00am Worship | 31 Memorial Day |
MAY BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
3 Joann P., Dave P.
10 Jeryl N.
11 Karen J., Solomon P.
12 Joan L.
14 Bo A.
18 Jay and Jane O., Taytum S.
24 Gail Mc.
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 