Presbytidings – January 2022
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….
A Prayer for the New Year
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 brings us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and forgiven. Amen.
What New Year’s resolutions did you make this year? Did you resolve to change or add a practice or a habit, to lose weight, exercise more, eat more vegetables, or spend more time with family? Perhaps a resolution we should make is to let go of things; like anger, bitterness and replace those attitudes with compassion, kindness, and forgiveness.
Let’s start with resolving to be kind to each other. Theologian, Henry Nouwen[*], wrote “Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. When we say, “She is a kind person” or “He surely was kind to me,“ we express a warm feeling. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response. But when we encounter it, we know that we are blessed. Is it possible to grow in kindness, to become a kind person” Yes, but it requires discipline? To be kind means to treat another person as your”kin” your intimate relative. We say, “We are kin” or “he is next of kin” To be kind is to reach out to someone as being of “kindred” spirit.
Nouwen goes on to say “Here is the great challenge; All people, whatever their color, religion, or sex, belong to humankind and are to be kind to one another, treat one another as brothers and sisters. There is hardly a day in our lives in which we are not called to this.” We are reminded that kindness isn’t the only attribute we are to work to cultivate in our lives. The author of Colossians wrote (3:12-14 ESV): Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all this put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
These are attitudes and actions that God desires we share with each other year-round and should be a part of every year’s resolutions. We can only do this because God’s love empowers and encourages each of us us to cultivate in our lives peace and harmony with one another.
Grace and peace to you,
Pastor Teresa
SESSION
The Session will meet on January 22nd from 9:00 to 12:30 for a time of training and planning for 2022. All Session members including the incoming class of elders should plan to attend. We will be reviewing polices of the congregation as well as planning for communion, monthly devotions and organizing Session teams.
FPC ANNUAL MEETING
Our annual congregational meeting will follow worship on Sunday, January 30th. If you are responsible for a particular ministry (e.g., deacons, music, nominating, church school, property), please submit a brief report to the church office (fpcwayne@gmail.com) by Friday, 1/14/2022.
SESSION & DEACON TEAM REPORTS DUE
2020 Session members & Deacons are reminded to compile a summary report for your area which will need to be sent to the office by Friday, January 14th.
THANK-YOU
Thank you for the wonderful gift from the congregation, your generosity is deeply appreciated. Thank-you also to each one who sent a card or remembered me in other ways. As we begin our fifth year of ministry together, I am every more grateful for your gifts of friendship, your support and encouragement as we share in the ministry of First Presbyterian Church. Grace and peace to each of you, Pastor Teresa.
Thank you to the FPC church family for your generosity this Christmas season. I am grateful for your gifts and support. Jenny
Thank-you to all who assisted during the Advent season as lectors, greeters and Advent candle lighters.
November 28th – Ken & Karen Marra
December 5th – Brian & Amy Bowers
December 12th – Austin & Michelle Galles & family
December 19th – Larry & Tiffanny Heese
December 24 – Mark, Jenny & Nina Hammer
Thank-you to Ronda Ras for accompanying our Christmas Eve service.
Thank-you to Ken & Jan Liska who donated poinsettias for the Advent season.
THANK-YOU PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS
December 12th the congregation enjoyed many seasonal favorites performed by the Presbyterian Pealers during worship. It was wonderful to have the bells in worship again. Thank you to all the members of the choir for their dedication and especially director Jay O’Leary.
“A CHRISTMAS TO BELIEVE IN”
Thank-you to all the young and young at heart who participated in all church play “A Christmas to Believe In” on December 19th. The narrators, Gabe Peitz, Maria Ras, and Solomon Peitz told the Christmas story and our FPC actors showed the story. You can see the service on the FPC Facebook page where the video of the service is posted. Thank-you to Ronda Ras for her work in organizing and the following people for participating.
Narrator #1 – Gabe Peitz
Narrator #1b – Maria Ras
Narrator #2 – Solomon Peitz
Mary – Breanna Chase
Joseph – Gabe Peitz
Angel – Maria Ras
Elizabeth – Ronda Ras
Zechariah – Gerard Ras
Townspeople – Jackie Owens, Pastor Teresa Bartlett
Angels – Candyce Peitz, Maria Ras & Suzanne Sjuts
Shepherds – Ronda Ras: Head Shepherd, Jacobi Galles, Sydney Galles
Herod – Gordon Granberg
Wise Men – Mark Hammer, Nina Hammer, Kent Pulfer
Advisor to Herold – Gail McCorkindale
The members of the congregation are the messengers taking the story into the world.
CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING
The Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four denominational offerings, the others are One Great Hour of Sharing, The Pentecost Offering, Peace and Global Witness Offering. The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage. Thank-you for your generosity to this special offering. Our collection for this year was $265.00.
DECEMBER SURPRISE REVERSE OFFERING
December 5th each family in worship received an envelope with $30.00. Members were asked to use the money to bless someone else during the holiday season. Members could gift all the money to one person or organization or divide it up between several. Each envelope also contained a foam ornament which was to be used to record on the back how the money was spent, no names just how the money was used. Thirty envelopes were distributed that morning, twenty-one have been returned. If by chance you haven’t returned your ornament, please feel free to return it to Pastor Teresa.
A variety of agencies and individuals benefited from our December Surprise gifts. The Salvation Army and Haven House had the most donations. There were also donations to Camp Calvin Crest, Wayne Library (to pay overdue book fines), Ronald McDonald House, Heifer International. Some gifts were very personal and included meeting the needs of a student, helping a friend with gas, helping a single Mom, buying wreaths, and delivering to people to spread Christmas cheer. Thank-you to everyone for helping share the love of Christ this holiday season.
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.
PRAYER CONCERNS
Prayers for the family & friends of Martha Svoboda who passed away on Christmas Day. Prayers for Joann Proett. Prayers of healing for Braydn McCorkindale who is recovering from a broken leg. Prayers for Marty Hettinger (mother of Dawn Fuelberth. Prayers for Misty Beair, Milton Owens (for sight and general health), continued healing for Bev Beeson, Diane Confer (sister-in-law to Pastor Teresa), Joseph Woerdemann (friend of the congregation), and Eric Liska. And prayers for those who are homebound.
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 H.
5 Terry B.
9 Jenny H.
10 Emily A.
11 Joyce V.
20 Kent P.
27 Jim P.
28 Jackie O.
31 Elaine F., Shannon P.
The Northeast Nebraska Rural Health Network Survey
The Northeast Nebraska Rural Health Network is inviting those who live and work in the counties of Cedar, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne counties to complete a community health survey. This information will help us develop a more accurate picture of how we can work together to make a healthier community for everyone. This survey will only take about 5 minutes and your answers will be kept separate from any personal identifying information you provide. Completing a survey will also make you eligible for a drawing for one of four “Healthy Living” prizes worth $50 each. The survey will close on January 31, 2022. Find a link to the Survey here: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management
January 2022 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning: Handbell Choir 9:00Worship 10:00Fellowship 11:00 | 1 New Year’s Day! Pastor on vacation | |||||
| 2 Pastor on vacation Service was canceled due to poor weather | 3 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living Pastor on vacation | 4 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living Pastor on vacation | 5 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 6 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 7 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 8 |
| 9 Communion 1:30 Pastor leads Countryview Chapel 4:00 Cub Scouts | 10 9:30 Wayne Family Coalition Meeting | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 9:30 Salvation Army Mtg. Session & Deacon Annual reports due | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 9:00-12:30 Session Retreat |
| 23 4:00pm Cub Scouts | 24 | 25 1:00pm Homestead Council Meeting | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| 30 Annual Congregational Meeting & Installation of Deacons & Elders | 31 |
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)
[*] Nouwen, Henry J.M. Bread for the Journey. Harper Collins. San Francisco= 1997. February 4th. Accessed 12/30/21
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 