Presbytidings – July/August 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….
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful; I know that full well.” Psalm 139:14
What fills you with awe, wonder, amazement?
Watching the ocean waves break across the sand.
Hiking in the Grand Canyon or in the Rocky Mountains.
A clear night sky filled with stars.
The first firefly.
Holding a newborn baby.
The intricacy of a spiderweb – delicate yet strong.
The miracle of the transformation of a seed of corn
into a 6-to 7-foot-tall plant bearing several ears of corn.
The power of nature whether floods, tornados or windstorms.
The raw power and intricate wisdom and beauty we see in creation arouses our senses of wonder and awe. Music and art can also inspire us. Think of an opera by Verdi or a beautiful painting by Monet. The world is full of wonderful and beautiful things.
Psalm 139 is attributed to King David, a prayer, an acknowledgement, of Gods Omnipresence – God is everywhere, God’s omniscience – God is all knowing. Psalm 139 reminds us God knows us – verse 13 says “For you created my innermost being you knit me together in my mother’s womb” God knows our thought our words our actions, inwardly and outwardly God knows us. Verse 3 says “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.”
We are purposefully made – Psalm 139:14 says – I praise you because I am fearfully made.” Each of us is gifted with skills and abilities, interests and desires. Our purpose is to use our talents and abilities to bring glory to God, to care for each other and God’s creation.
We so often run from our abilities, failing to share the gifts and talents God has given us, and fall into sin. By God’s grace Jesus came to rescue, remake, ransom us from sin.
Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:8-10 NIV). We have no righteousness of our own, it is our Savior’ righteousness which covers us. Jesus’ righteousness belongs to all who believe his promises are true.
Our creator is the source of all wisdom of all beauty, all truth and goodness. We know what justice is because God is just, we know what goodness is because our Creator is fully, entirely, steadfastly good. In contrast to God, who is all good, all powerful, always just, we human beings are not all good, all powerful or all just, often we are petty, selfish and mean. Yet we are extended grace, Isaiah 43:1 says ”…Now says the Lord, he who created you…”Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” What wonderful assurance that we are named and claimed by the very one who created the heavens and the earth, the one who set the sun and the moon in their places and knows everything about us, even the hard to love traits and loves us still. The knowledge of our Triune God’s grace, love and mercy should fill us at all times with awe, wonder and amazement.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
SPECIAL OFFERING FOR FLOOD RELIEF IN SIOUXLAND – June 30th & July 7th
At the June meeting the Session decided to receive an offering for flood relief for Sioux City and northwest Iowa regions affected by the recent flooding. The damage is tremendous and will take many months, perhaps years for people to rebuild. The initial offering will go to Siouxland Recovery Fund. You can read more about their efforts at this website – Siouxland Recovery Fund | United Way of Siouxland (unitedwaysiouxland.com) Presbyterian Disaster Funds are starting to be distributed in the area and we will watch for additional opportunities to give or volunteer in the coming days.
SAVE THE DATE:
PRESBYTERIAN PROGRESSIVE DINNER PARTY: AUGUST 25t
Plan to join your church family (and bring a friend!) Sunday August 25th at 5:30 for a progressive dinner. The evening will commence at 5:30 PM for appetizers at the home of Gerard and Ronda Ras. We will then mosey to the home of Kent and Jodi Pulfer for salad followed by the entrée at Jeryl and Rochelle Nelson’s home. The evening will conclude with dessert at the home of Mark and Gail McCorkindale. There will be a free-will donation to conclude the evening which will benefit the Wayne Backpack Program. We will respectfully request that participants silence or turn off their cell phones to fully enjoy Christian fellowship.
*RSVP to fpcwayne@gmail.com
OSLC-FPC GOLF OUTING
The annual golf outing with folks from Our Savior Lutheran Church is in the planning stages. The August date and details will be shared at a later time.
4th OF JULY OFFICE CLOSURE
The FPC Office and Wayne Food Pantry will be open on Monday, July 1st and closed on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th.
SUMMER COMMUNION DATES
- No communion for the month of July 2024.
- Sunday, August 4th. Communion Elder, John Fuelberth.
COMMUNITY CHAPEL SERVICES
Pastor Teresa will lead chapel services at the following locations through the summer:
- COUNTRY VIEW CHAPEL Pastor will lead Country View chapel on Sunday, July 14th at 1:30pm.
- Pastor will also lead Country View chapel on Sunday, August 25th at 1:30pm.
- RADIO DEVOTIONS Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of August 5th – 9th at 5:40am.
- KINSHIP POINTE CHAPEL Please join Pastor Teresa as she leads chapel at Kinship Pointe on Wednesday, July 31st at 3:30pm.
Runza and Wayne Salvation Army Unit join forces for “Christmas in July” Fundraiser
The Wayne Salvation Army unit is pleased to be working with our local Runza on a “Christmas in July” event said chairperson, Pastor Teresa Bartlett. Tuesday, July 16th between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. Runza will donate 15% of their sales to the Wayne Salvation Army Unit. The focus of this fundraiser is supporting the Wayne Salvation Army’s school supply give away event to be held on August 12th. Join us in any manner; eat in, drive through or carry out and help us meet the needs of Wayne students.
The Salvation Army reinvests donations raised from fundraising such as the seasonal Red Kettle Campaign into the community through various projects such as the Back-to-School project. The Salvation Army Unit also receives support from the Wayne Community Chest. Volunteers are always welcome if you are interested in helping please contact chair, Pastor Teresa Bartlett 402.375.2669.
COFFEEHOUSE WORSHIP DATES
CoffeeHouse Worship continues this summer on the following dates:
- July 21st at 10:00am – Jane O’Leary will lead the discussion, a host is still needed.
- August 20th at 10:00am – Discussion and Fellowship hosts are needed.
STAFF VACATIONS & TEMPORARY OFFICE CLOSURE
- Pastor Teresa will be out on vacation Wednesday, August 7th – Monday, August 12th.
- Jenny will be out Tuesday, August 6th – Friday, August 9th.
- The FPC Office and Wayne Food Pantry will be closed August 7 – 9th.
- If you have a pastoral need while Pastor Teresa is away, please check the church website for contact info.
SESSION MEETINGS
- There will be no session meeting in July.
- The next session meeting will be held on Monday, August 26h, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY MEETING
The Homestead Presbytery will meet at Calvin Crest on Saturday, August 17th.
CALVIN CREST FAMILY FUN DAY – August 24th, 2024
Calvin Crest’s Fun Day on Saturday, August 24th is perfect for families, friends, children, adults, community members and grandparents! The event offers activities for all ages including music, games, hikes, crafts, food and fellowship.
You can find more information at https://calvincrest.org/familyfunday/
FOOD PANTRY & BACKPACK NEWS 2024
The food pantry has served over 112 requests so far this year. The Backpack Program distributed approximately 4,500 food bags in the 2023/24 academic year. We serve the Wayne Community Schools, St. Mary’s and Tower Schools. The program continues this summer. We appreciate donations such as individually wrapped packages of nutritious food & snacks or financial donations. Contact Jodi Pulfer or Jenny Hammer at the church office: fpcwayne@gmail.com or (402)375-2669 for more details.
Jon Worner is currently at basic training for the National Guard, and he would like to receive some correspondence. He will be done August 1st. Someone will probably read what you write. If you would like to send Jon a note, please contact the church office for his address. Do not send food.
July 2024 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning: 10:00 Worship11:00 Fellowship | 1 Church office & Food Pantry open | 2 | 3 | 4 Church office & Food Pantry Closed | 5 Church office & Food Pantry Closed | 6 |
| 7 No communion | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 1:30pm + CountryView Chapel | 15 9:30am + Wayne Family Coalition | 16 5-8:00pm Runza supports Salvation Army | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 10:00am CoffeeHouse Worship | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel |
July Birthdays
10 Shea S.
21 Josephine P.
24 Mark H.
29 Marta P.
August 2024 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | ||||
| 4 10:00am + Communion | 5 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 6 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 7 Church office & Food Pantry Closed 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 8 Church office & Food Pantry Closed 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 9 Church office & Food Pantry Closed 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 10 |
| 11 | 12 8:30am All day Salvation Army set-up & give away school supplies (4:30-7:30pm) | 13 | 14 3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel | 15 | 16 | 17 Homestead Presbytery Meeting @ Calvin Crest |
| 18 10:00am CoffeeHouse Worship | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| 25 1:30pm Country View Chapel 5:30 Progressive Dinner | 26 7:00pm Session | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |
AUGUST BIRTHDAYS
2 Gordon G.
3 Ken M.
8 Nina S.
27 Milton O.
30 Layne H.
FPC WORSHIP SERVICE LIVE AND RECORDED:
This summer you can take us with you wherever you are!
Zoom: (This option is a live broadcast.) Check your email for an invitation from Pastor Teresa.
Facebook: @ First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
Website: fpcwayne.com
YouTube: @ fpc of Wayne Nebraska
Check it out!
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.org/
Wayne Food Pantry: https://fpcwayne.org/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
Pastor Teresa Bartlett
402-375-2669 (office)
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First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 