Presbytidings – February 2024
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……
Jesus liked to teach using parables the familiar parables of the mustard seed and the yeast are found in Matthew 13:31-35. The tiny mustard seed grows into a tree offering shelter to the wildlife. If you have ever poured a package of yeast into warm milk you can see and smell the changes, and the yeast when mixed with flour and other ingredients, that yeast cause the dough to rise and multiples in size. These are just two examples of the power of small things, also consider these small things atoms, mosquitos, honeybees, bed bugs, viruses, a hummingbird, babies, words of encouragement, a hug.[*]
Sometimes we think it must be big to be used by God, which is not always the case. God specializes in using the small and insignificant things to accomplish great things. Scriptures give us many examples, such as young David’s encounter with Goliath. David was a boy, not a soldier, yet it took only one of his 5 smooth stones to take down the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17). The boy who gave his lunch of fish and bread to Jesus and in Jesus’ hands five thousand people were fed (John 6:9).
Each Christmas we celebrate how God did a new thing by breaking into the world in the form of a baby, born to a young woman and an earthly father. A baby that needed to be swaddled, held, fed, changed, and rocked, like all babies. That baby grew into a man, who stepped into his role as the son of God and our Savior and changed the world and the lives of thousands of people. Jesus selected 12 disciples to work with him, learn from him, to take the gospel to the world. Indeed, we are still talking about Jesus and those 12 disciples more than 2000 years later. Sometimes it’s hard for us to wrap our head around the idea that even small things can make a big difference. As one theologian wrote “Never despise small things because God can use them to accomplish great things.”[†]
The parable of the mustard seeds is a good reminder for us to take stock of what we have, thank God for those things, and for those before us who planted the seeds of faith and took the time to invest in a faith community and encourage others to join them. Did you know the FPC congregation was established with 11 charter members, we started small!
Our annual statistical report shows our membership is 79, which is down from 91 last year. That change comes from loss of members through death and inactive members removed from the roles. Currently the median size of churches in the PC (USA) is 71 with an average attendance of 35, so we are not an exception to the norm. According to 2022 statistics in the PC (USA) there are 8705 churches app. 23% are churches our size, with 51 to 100 members. According to Pew Research 38% of Presbyterians are aged 65 and older. [‡] I’m not minimizing the challenges we face but reminding the congregation we’re not alone.
Numbers can be important for some things, but numbers can also convince us that we don’t have enough, that we aren’t enough. Indeed, we can get anxious and fearful as we see the membership numbers decline as we see budget shortfalls. We can be fearful of the future, anxious about finances and leadership. This comes in part from the culture around us which defines success with size, that bigger is better and small often correlates to failure. Let’s join God in planting mustard seeds and sprinkling yeast in our congregation and community rather than focusing on numbers, focusing instead on our strengths and assets.
The participation of all members of the congregation is important for the life and flourishing of this faith community. We have a congregation of people with a variety of skills and interests, we should reach out reengage all members of our congregation. We should also reach out to others, invite a neighbor or someone you’ve missed in church to worship or a church activity, offer to pray for someone or a share word of encouragement with them. Give of your creativity, energy, imagination, and engagement through the faith community for God’s glory. Join in worship and our coffeehouse format worship, offer ideas to the Session for special events the congregation could host for the community. Offer to help with events like Easter brunch and Lenten Soup suppers, as lector or greeters. We shouldn’t tell God we don’t have enough resources, our faith is too small, our fears too many- remember what 12 disciples did, remember what 11 charter members of this congregation did, remember God can use us if we are willing. God loves to do the surprising things; scriptures bear that out. Our Triune God can use small things like mustard seeds and yeast to make an impact, God can use this congregation as well. May it be so, thanks be to God, Amen.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
FPC ANNUAL REPORT
Pastor Teresa’s letter was from the Annual Meeting held on Sunday, January 28th. If you would like a copy of the report, you can pick up a copy on the Opportunity Table or contact Jenny at fpcwayne@gmail.com
COMMUNION
- We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, February 4th. Suzanne Sjuts will serve as the Communion Elder.
- Next month, Communion will be held on Sunday, March 3rd. The Communion Elder will be Gerard Ras.
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY
Homestead Presbytery will gather on Saturday, February 17th, via Zoom. Contact Pastor Teresa for more details..
SESSION
The Session will meet on Monday, February 26, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT & EASTER
Observe a holy Lenten season this year.
- We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service February 14th beginning at 7:00pm.
- Palm Sunday Service on Sunday, March 24th at 10:00am.
- The Maundy Thursday service will be held Thursday evening, March 28th, 7:00pm.
- Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service at 10:00am on Sunday, March 31st, 2024.
Borrowed Time
J. Barrie Shepherd.
These forty days are Lent to us-
not counting Sundays-
a blessed space in time in which
to step aside, get out of line,
drop out of the mad rush toward
the six-foot drop and bring oneself
to life again. Six weeks, say-
more or less-until the note falls due,
those generous terms expire,
and the piper must be paid
under the palm branches
And dark twisted olive trees.
MID-WEEK LENTEN SERIES & HOLY WEEK SERVICES
“What Is the Problem with Sin?”
The season of Lent calls us to repentance, and to recognizing Christ’s sacrifice for our sinfulness. Sin in its many forms are as present in today’s world as ever, temptations abound. We will take a look at various sins named in Christian theology and the counterpart to those sins which Paul details in Ephesians as the “fruit of the spirit.” During the Lenten season we will be reminded of the challenges of Christian living but also that God’s grace is more than sufficient for all our sins.
February 21st “What Is the Problem with Sin?”
February 28th “Choosing Humility”
March 6th “Killing with Kindness”
March 13th “Practicing Patience”
March 20th “The Duty of Diligence”
March 24th (Palm Sunday) “The Help of Holiness”
March 28th (Maundy Thursday) “The Secret of Contentment”
March 31st Easter Sunday
LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS TO BEGIN MARCH 1st
Lenten Soup and Sandwich suppers will begin on Wednesday, February 21st and continue until March 20th. Soup suppers will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by our Lenten worship service at 7:00 p.m. Sign-up on the sheet in Fellowship Hall to bring soup, sandwiches, dessert or other items for the meal.
FPC CHURCH DIRECTORY
Please submit address or phone number changes for you and for your family members to fpcwayne@gmail.com or call the office at 402-375-2669. Thank you!
POTENTIAL & POSSIBILITIES
The Session has set a goal for FPC to host a special event of some kind quarterly. This would be an event we could invite the community to participate in perhaps a special musical event, instrumental group, soloist or quartet, speaker or other types of event. Feel free to share with Pastor Teresa or a Session member if you know of a group or individual we might invite for these special events. The Session will make the final determination regarding quarterly events. By welcoming others into the church for these events, it will give the congregation the opportunity to meet and greet members of the community and an opening to share the mission of FPC.
FELLOWSHIP HALL PIANO
The Fellowship Hall piano is available to anyone who would like it and will move it. The Aerosonic piano is in good useable conditions, however would likely need tuning after moving. Please speak to Pastor Teresa if you are interest in the piano. The Session would like to piano to have a new home soon.
2024 FPC ELDERS & DEACONS
New ruling elders and deacons were installed by Pastor Teresa Bartlett at the First Presbyterian Church in Wayne on Sunday January 21st. Dr. Mark Hammer was installed for a second 3-year term as ruling elder and Dr. Gerard Ras fills the vacancy of outgoing elder Dr. Kent Pulfer. They join Dr. John Fuelberth, Dr. Gail McCorkindale, Dr. Jane O’Leary, and Suzanne Sjuts on the session to guide and govern the congregation. Sydney Story and Jenny Hammer were installed as deacons to fill vacancies of outgoing deacons Karen Johnson and Connie Bargstadt. Sydney and Jenny join deacons Karen Marra, Misty Beair, Tiffany Hesse and Rev. Gordon Granberg. The ministry of the deacons is one of compassion, witness and service to congregational members or to any person in distress. The deacons also assist with the Wayne Coat Closet at the church.
Dr. Ras is the Dean of the School of Business and Technology at Wayne State College. Dr. Hammer is a professor of biology at Wayne State College and a member of the Presbyterian Pealer Bell Choir. Sydney Story, also a Presbyterian Pealer, is an attorney at Stratton, DeLay, Doele, Carlson, Buettner & Stover, P.C., L.L.O. in Norfolk. Jenny Hammer is the ministerial assistant and secretary at the First Presbyterian Church and is the Wayne Food Pantry coordinator at the First Presbyterian Church.
The First Presbyterian Church of Wayne is part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The Presbyterian Church has a strong emphasis on the Grace of God in Jesus Christ. Presbyterians follow a reformed religious theology and have representational leadership by both ministers and church members. For more information about PCUSA: go to www.pcusa.org. For more information about First Presbyterian Church go to fpcwayne.com, follow on Face Book or join in 10 AM Sunday worship at 216 W. 3rd Street in Wayne.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WAYNE
THE SESSION 2024
Elder Class
Jane O’Leary, Session Clerk (Worship, Outreach) 2024
Suzanne Sjuts (Worship, Outreach, Discipleship) 2024
John Fuelberth (Property, Fellowship) 2025
Gail McCorkindale (Worship, Discipleship, Administration) 2025
Mark Hammer (Property, Fellowship) 2026
Gerard Ras (Administration) 2026
BOARD OF DEACONS 2024
Deacon Class
Misty Beair 2024
Tiffanny Heese 2024
Gordon Granberg 2025
Karen Marra 2025
Jenny Hammer 2026
Sydney Story 2026
COMMITTEES OF THE CONGREGATION 2024
Nominating Team: Jane O’Leary, Karen Johnson, Tiffanny Heese, Connie Bargstadt, Brian Bowers & Randy Dunklau
Financial Review: Jeryl Nelson & Mark McCorkindale
OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION: Suzanne Sjuts, President; John Fuelberth, Vice-President;
Jane O’Leary, Secretary; Jodi Pulfer, Treasurer
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Shari Dunklau, Mark McCorkindale, Kent Pulfer
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
10 Jodi P.
20 Karen M.
25 Pat S., Gabriel P.
27 Jan L.
28 Amy B.
I’m Not Just February
By Annette Wynne
I’m not just February
With winds that blow
All day, and piled-up snow;
I’m Washington and Lincoln, too,
Who kept our country’s flag for you!
I’m Valentine of airy grace-
With golden hearts and hearts of lace
And pretty cards that people send,
Quite as a secret, to a friend.
Though I am short of days and small,
I’m quite a big month, after all!
Accessed from https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/february-poems/
February 2024 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning: 9:00 Bells Practice 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship | 1 Pastor’s “Word in Faith” column appears in the Wayne Herald | 2 | 3 | |||
| 4 10:00am Communion Suzanne Sjuts, communion elder 1:30pm Pastor at CountryView | 5 | 6 | 7 10:30am WACAM | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| 11 11:15 Deacons meet | 12 | 13 | 14 3:30 Pastor at Kinship Pointe 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service | 15 | 16 | 17 10:00am Homestead Presbytery Via Zoom |
| 18 CoffeeHouse Woship | 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 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lenten Service | 22 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 23 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 24 9:30am Mobile Food Pantry Truck at Journey CC |
| 25 | 26 7:00pm Session Mtg. | 27 | 28 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lenten Service | 29 |
Contact Information:
First Presbyterian Church
216 W. Third Street
Wayne NE 68787
FPC Office/ Wayne Food Pantry/Wayne Coat Closet
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/
FPC Service Recordings can be found at:
*Facebook @ First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
*Our website @ fpcwayne.com
*YouTube @ FPC of Wayne Nebraska
FPC Online Worship Bulletins can be found at:
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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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[*] The power of small things: God’s open secret | Pastor Joe McKeever Accessed 1/9/2024.
[†] Big Lessons From Small Things. by Luther Sexton, Zechariah 4:10, Ezra 3:12 – SermonCentral.com Accessed 1/9.2024.
[‡] Members of the Presbyterian Church USA – Religion in America: U.S. Religious Data, Demographics and Statistics | Pew Research Center Accessed 1/12/2024.
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 