Presbytidings – November 2022
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.”
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS
Daylight savings ends Sunday, November 6th at 2:00am. Set your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday night, November 5th and enjoy a little extra rest!
From the Pastor…..
October has gone so quickly it seems but a blur. We find ourselves on the cusp of November moving ever so quickly toward the end of the year. In a society that seems to always be rushing to the next thing, it is good to slow down and reflect, to offer our thanks and praise to God. I came across the following devotion on the website God’s Protected Harbor. I really enjoyed the reflection and hope you will as well.
“During this holiday season when we reflect on everything God has placed in our lives, we have the unique opportunity to place emphasis on giving thanks. Believing in God allows us to be thankful when things go well and patient when things go against us. It is crucial at the times when things are going against us to thank God for granting us the learning experience he has placed in front of us. Sometimes at the moment, it is hard to see God’s greater plan for you and to trust in him. Remaining patient during times of adversity allows us to completely retain the lesson that God is trying to teach us. Paul sums things up this way. He says it is God’s will for us to be thankful “in all circumstances.” Well, it may help to note that Paul is not saying we should be thankful for all circumstances, but in them. When things seem to go against us, God expects us to be grateful that his hand holds us and helps us to endure under the strain. That’s a big challenge – to look for reasons to be thankful when the going is tough. Sometimes it can be equally difficult for us to be thankful when things are going well. The very nature of human beings, even if we are Christian, is to overlook the crowd of God’s good gifts to us every day. Here’s a great exercise you can do today: sit still where you are and exercise the gift of noticing. Notice what you see, what you have, and who is with you. Notice the color, beauty, and variety around you. Keep noticing and make a list of the gifts you notice. Then give thanks to God, the great giver!”[*]
Prayer:
“Today we thank you God for everything you have placed in our lives. We thank you for the good and the bad. We thank you for allowing us to be patient through the bad in our life so that we may learn what it is you want us to learn from the situation. We ask that today you give us the great gift of being able to notice all of your gifts. Open our hearts to a spirit of thanksgiving we pray. Amen.”
- Pastor Teresa
HAPPY “BIRTH-DAY”
Happy birthday to Layla Bray Story, who was born early in the morning in mid-October. She entered the world at 21.5” and 7lbs 15oz Congratulations and best wishes to Layla’s parents: Nate & Sydney Story, and her proud grandparents: Mark & Gail McCorkindale.
COMMUNION
We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on November 6th with Shari Dunklau as the communion elder. We will celebrate Communion on December 4th.
COFFEEHOUSE WORSHIP CONTINUES ON NOVEMBER 13th
We will meet in Fellowship Hall, coffee and refreshments will be available as desired throughout the service. Karen Johnson will lead discussion.
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
The Session has called a congregational meeting for November 13th following Coffeehouse Worship. At the meeting we will elect a new class of deacons & elders and approve the terms of call for the pastor in 2023. The snow date will be November 20th.
STEWARDSHIP REMINDER
Members and friends of the congregation should have received a year to date statement of giving for 2022 and a 2023 intention of giving form. If you did not receive this information please contact Anita Fuelberth.
You are asked to prayerfully review your information and return the intention of giving form to Anita Fuelberth right away. You can mail the form to Anita or drop your envelope in the offering box at church. This information is helpful to the Session in planning for 2023. Thank You for your support and dedication to FPC.
DID YOU KNOW?
Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) have become a great way for people 70½ or older to take all or part of their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from their Traditional IRA. The recent tax code changed the standard deduction for those over 65 to $26,600 for married filing jointly or $13,600 for single filers. Thus for many of us our church pledges will no longer be included in an itemized deduction. However, by making all or part of our pledge a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from the IRA custodian or trustee to the church the distribution will not be included as taxable income to the IRA owner. Qualified Charitable Distributions can also exceed one’s specific RMD amount and still not be taxed.
While Qualified Charitable Distributions are not complex there are certain requirements and steps that should be followed so check with your tax professional.
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY
Our presbytery will meet on November 17th at First Presbyterian Church in Wahoo. Worship begins at 10:00am. Pastor Teresa will attend.
PRAYER FOR VETERANS DAY
God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation,
who laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom…
We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war
and whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day…
We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm’s way:
shield them from danger and bring them home, soon…
Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies
to the work of justice and a harvest of peace…
Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!
May the peace you left us, the peace you gave us,
be the peace that sustains, the peace that saves us.
Christ Jesus, hear us! Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!
Amen.
From – ConcordPastor.blogspot.com
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
The church office will be closed Thursday & Friday, November 24/25 for the Thanksgiving holiday.
To Give Thanks…
is to remember how it feels to experience belonging,
to look long around a laden table
and be glad to claim a place among that gathered company.
To give thanks is to remember what has been-time’s bewildering recital-
and, despite so much, to look ahead with undiminished hope.
To give thanks is to recall with heartache all those absent from the assembled,
the dear departed, those, too, who never made it in the first place,
due to loss, or want, foul fortune, being born at the wrong place, at the wrong time.
To give thanks takes all that we have been, all that we are and yet might be,
and shapes it new around a fuller, richer, broader future feast.
J. Barrie Shepherd
SESSION
The Session will gather on Monday, November 28 at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall.
Deacons Coat Giveaway a Success!
….. ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40b NIV
October 15th the FPC Deacons hosted a coat giveaway. In total 79 coats and 87 accessories, such as hats, mittens, gloves, snow pants etc., were given away Saturday and throughout the following week. The Deacons were pleased to have such a good response.
The coat giveaway was a big project and the Deacons were fortunate to have the assistance of several groups. The FCCLA organization from Wayne Community Schools (WCS), Ms. Alina Surber and students, helped the Deacons move coats and racks from the basement into Fellowship Hall to set up for the event. The move to Fellowship Hall allowed more space for coats, volunteers, helpers and clients. Christa Dutcher, Spanish instructor at WCS and her students helped with Spanish translation for clients and some of our posters and forms. The Deacons appreciate the assistance of KTCH in public service announcements about the event as well as the Wayne School District sending information out to families. Thanks to every individual and group who assisted in the Coat Closet giveaway in any manner and helped make it successful.
Due to the success of the giveaway the Coat Closet stock is low. If you would like to donate we always need children’s coats and we are in need of men’s work coats as well as hats, mittens and gloves for all people. The Coat Closet is one way we live into our mission as a Matthew 25 church and address the needs of people in our area.
MITTEN TREE
The Deacons request your help in restocking our glove and mitten inventory. In December we will have a Mitten Tree in Fellowship Hall and ask you to donate gloves and mittens. Your donations of coats, gloves and mittens are welcome anytime.
SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS NEEDED
The Wayne Extension Unit of the Salvation Army will be conducting its Annual Bell Ringing Campaign beginning Friday, November 25. The bell ringing campaign is the primary fundraiser for the Salvation Army in Wayne. Bell ringers are needed for 2-hour time slots on Friday or Saturday beginning Thanksgiving weekend to December 16th. Churches, service organizations, youth groups and others are invited to participate in the bell ringing project. The only requirements are to be friendly and welcoming, dress warmly and smile easily and say thank-you, oh yeah, a little wrist action with a bell. We can fill shorter time slots if we get more volunteers.
Ninety percent (90%) of the funds collected in the bell ringing campaign remain in the community and assist with housing, utilities, medical, transportation and other needs of families and individuals in Wayne. In 2022 the Wayne SA Unit sponsored a back to school drive for school supplies for elementary children. The project was very successful and helped more than 80 children with backpacks and school supplies.
Participation in the Salvation Army bell ringing campaign is one way we can live into our commitment of being a Matthew 25 congregation; as we are reminded in Matthew 25:40; ‘… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Please sign-up to ring the Salvation Army Bell this season. The sign-up sheet will be on the Opportunity Table.
ROAD SIDE CLEAN-UP
On October 23rd about 12 FPC members led by John Fuelberth ventured east of Wayne to clean-up our section of Highway 35. The crew battled strong winds that day but the volunteers still managed to gather a pick-up load of trash. Thanks to everyone who joined in this project.
A TIP OF THE HAT
Thank-you to the Galles family who took care of the mowing of the church lawn over the course of the last several months. Thank you also to those who planted flowers and trimmed bushes, plants and trees. Your gifts of time have made sure the church grounds were looking nice for Sunday as well as for other church and community events. Thank-you to each one who gave of their time.
CONGRATULATIONS WAYNE HIGH GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY TEAM
CONGRATULATIONS to the Wayne Community Schools Girls Cross country team on winning state in their division. Head coach is Courtney Maas and assistant coach is Kent Pulfer.
CONGRATULATIONS TO WCS BAND
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WCS High school band for earning an excellent rating at the state competition.
LOOKING AHEAD TO ADVENT & CHRISTMAS
- The Hanging of the Greens will take place after worship on November 27th. Stick around to help decorate our building in anticipation of Christmas and enjoy an old-fashioned potluck dinner.
- December Surprise!, December 4th.
- Our Christmas Eve Service will be held at 5:30pm.
- No service on Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Day.
HANGING OF THE GREENS/POTLUCK
We will “Hanging the Greens” and have an all-church potluck on Sunday, November 27th after worship. Stay tuned for details.
ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS NEEDED
Pastor Teresa is looking for couples, families or individuals who would like to assist with lighting the Advent candles during worship in December. All readings will be provided in advance. Your participation in this seasonal tradition will be appreciated. A sign-up sheet will be in Fellowship Hall or you can contact Pastor Teresa.
The dates are:
November 27th, December 4th, December 11th, December 18th, December 24th
DECEMBER SURPRISE!
The month of December and the Advent season are always filled with surprises and waiting. On December 4th the Session and Pastor Teresa have a surprise to share with the congregation. However, in order to learn what the surprise is, you must be present in worship on Sunday the 4th. So save the date of December 4th and don’t be late to church!!
NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
6 Brandon B.
10 Kevin P.
12 Ken L.
12 Mark Mc.
13 Katherine B.
14 Audrey H.
November 2022 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 9:00am Bell practice10:00am Worship11:00am Fellowship | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 6 Set your clocks back one hour 10:00am Worship & Communion 4:00pm Cub Scouts | 7 | 8 | 9 10:30am Pastor at WACAM | 10 Word in Faith column runs in Wayne Herald | 11 | 12 |
| 13 10:00am Coffeehouse Worship 11:00am Congregational Meeting | 14 9:30am Wayne County Family Coalition | 15 | 16 | 17 10:00am Homestead Presbytery at FPC Wahoo | 18 | 19 |
| 20 4:00pm Cub Scouts | 21 | 22 | 23 3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel | 24 Thanksgiving Day Office Closed | 25 Office closed | 26 |
| 27 11:00am Hanging of the Greens & Potluck | 28 7:00pm Session Meeting | 29 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 30 | 4 |
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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:
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[*] November Monthly Devotional | God’s Protected Harbor (godsprotectedharbor.org) Accessed 10/27/2022
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 