Presbytidings–September 2024
The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church
216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787
(402) 375-2669 + www.fpcwayne.com
“Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy God forever.”
From the Pastor…..
“Do everything in Love.”
(1st Corinthians 16:14)
The word love appears in the Bible hundreds of times and while it’s not the most used word in the Bible, love is one of the central themes of God’s Word. In the language of the New Testament, koine Greek, there are multiple words used for various types of love, such as agape: brotherly love, charity, the love of God for person and of person for God, eros: sexual passion, carnal love,philia: affectionate regard, friendship, usually between equals, storge: love, affection, especially of parents and children. In the English language however, there is only one word for love, so context drives the type of love being referenced in a passage. In various Biblical translations the word love appears with different frequency because of varying theories about translation.
Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians contains a familiar Bible passage which is often used at weddings and is a description of love and charge to a couple. The passage comes from chapter 13:4-8a: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.Love never fails.” Love does require all those characteristics Paul describes as well as more in individuals and communities.
“Do everything in Love” (1st Corinthians 16:14) was the theme of a recent conference I attended where a number of wonderful speakers expounded on the theme. Rev. Cindy Kohlman challenged participants with her comments entitled, “What’s Love Got to do with it?” Kohlman linked her comments with the Tina Turer song and its words, “Who needs a heart when a heart can be broken?” Kohlman reminded participants that often it’s God’s people who break God’s heart. We sing praises for the forgiveness of sins, remind ourselves of God’s grace and then hold onto those gifts Kohlmann said “….as if we have a right to decide who in inside and who is outside God’s boundless mercy.”
Love can be a powerful emotion leading to deep attachment and commitment to another person, love can also motivate one to act on behalf of others. Love is not always easy, 1 John 4:19-21 NIV helps us understand how to love one another; “We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” Too often we claim God’s love for ourselves and deny God’s love to others.
Jesus showed us how to love, to be open and welcoming of all people. Love should be hospitable, generous, helping others meet their basic needs. Our hearts need to be broken open to share love with all God’s children. In Matthew 25:40, the passage often called the sheep and the goats, Jesus said “ …. Truly I tell you whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”Love can be quiet and unassuming in caring for another, perhaps sharing a meal together or offering a quiet place of peace and restoration. Love may also be sharing God’s love through music and one’s personal testimony about God’s love changing their life. Love also requires us to care for ourselves in order to love our neighbors.
Love sometimes must be bold and courageous, like Queen Esther who spoke up and saved her people from annihilation (Esther, Chapters 4-9). Love may call us to action to work and speak out for justice, equity, peace, and diversity in the world. Love is multi-faceted, love unites us, helps shape and mold communities.
The Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency reminded the gathering participants that we are called to be disciples who “re-present” Christ, we are to display love with skin on and do all things in love.Moffett said, “How we treat one another matters to God and marks our witness… Doing all things in love means that wherever you go and whatever you do, people sense the love of God on you.” May our hearts be broken open in love, that we may act with compassion, charity, hospitality, courage in working for justice, diversity, equality, and peace. May all we do be done in love for God and God’s family.
– Pastor Teresa
COMMUNION
- There will be no communion for the month of September. We will celebrate World Communion on Sunday, October 6th.
SUNDAE SUNDAY!
Join us as we begin the new church year on Sunday, September 8th. Sunday School will resume and following the service we will have ice cream and toppings during our traditional SUNDAE SUNDAY fellowship! See you there!
COFFEEHOUSE
We are looking for CoffeeHouse discussion leaders and fellowship hosts for September, October and November. Consider joining a friend or family member for a team approach. Many hands make light work! Please see Jane O’Leary or Pastor Teresa if you can help out by filling these roles.
SESSION MEETINGS
- Monday, September 23rd, at 7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.
PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS
The Presbyterian Pealers Bell Choir begin again this fall. If you are a former member, please join us again. If you have not played before and would like to try, please join us. All are welcome, and if you have a friend who would like to play, they are also welcome and encouraged. If you have questions, please contact Jay O’Leary at drjayoleary@gmail.com
QUILTS OF VALOR
Jay O’Leary (Army) was recently honored with a Quilt of Valor during Henoween in July. We offer our thanks for his years of service to our country.
Please contact Imogene Brasch at 402-369-0742 if you know of someone who would qualify to receive a Quilt of Valor. The mission at the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover Service Members and Veterans touched by war with comforting and healing Quilts of Valor.
THANKS A MILLION!
- Thank you to the Galles Family who mowed the church lawn this summer. 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.
- Thank you to all those who contributed to our flood relief offering for Sioux City and northwest Iowa. The special offering came to $547. 00 and will go to Siouxland Recovery Fund for Flood Relief. You can read more about their efforts at this website – Siouxland Recovery Fund | United Way of Siouxland (unitedwaysiouxland.com
- Thank you to Gerard & Ronda Ras, Kent & Jodi Pulfer, Jeryl & Rochelle Nelson and Mark & Gail McCorkindale who opened their homes and shared their culinary skills for the progressive dinner on Sunday evening 8/25! It was hot but the food and fellowship were wonderful. Thanks also for the donation of $110.00 for the backpack program. Thanks to Gail for organizing and to each host household.
- Thank you so much to everyone who assisted in setting up for and serve the Nissen funeral lunch. The family was very appreciative of your help and support. Thank you for your ministry of hospitality.
When is the next electronics recycling event?
The Wayne Green Team will host our annual electronics recycling event on Saturday, September 14, 2024, 8-10am. The event will take place in our usual spot at eastbound 3rd Street between Lincoln and Pearl, next to City Hall and the Auditorium. Suggested donation of $10/household, $50/business load of reasonable size. Fees of $5/monitor and $10/TV (no charge for flatscreens), and $15/microwave.
For a detailed list of what’s accepted, see https://www.cityofwayne.org/594/Electronics.
For more details go to Electronics | Wayne, NE – Official Website (cityofwayne.org)
Sowing the seeds of peace.
ZECHARIAH 8:12
Peace and Global Witness offering to be collected on World Communion Sunday, October 6th.
The prophet Zechariah casts a vision for peace. He shows forth a world where each person lives without enmity, fear and destruction. On World Communion Sunday, we celebrate that Christ’s peace extends throughout all creation. Whenever the church gathers for worship, we are assured of Christ’s peace. We celebrate that we are connected, we are loved and we are not alone. We worship together and are fed from Scripture and at Christ’s table of peace. Extending the peace of Christ is part of an active, engaged faith—a witness to what it means for us to be the Church, together.
Through participation in the Peace & Global Witness Offering, our church is extending Christ’s peace throughout our community and our world. We begin at the communion table, with our siblings in every time and place, and we celebrate the peace we find there and commit to building a more just and peaceful world. God is with us … and God in Christ is with us through the Sacrament of Communion, celebrated on World Communion Sunday. We are not alone. Peace begins with each of us.
QUICK FACTS
• Since 1940, World Communion Sunday is an ecumenical celebration of our oneness in the Spirit and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing churches together in Christian unity.
• This year marks the 40th anniversary of Peacemaking: The Believers Calling approved by the 192nd General Assembly (1980).
• World Communion Sunday (October 6) is the most common Sunday for receiving the Offering, but many congregations promote the Offering throughout A Season of Peace (September 8 – October 6).
• 25% of the Offering stays with local congregations, and 25% with mid councils to unite congregations to support peacemaking in their regions. See page 5 for examples of how others have used their retained funds.
• 50% of this Offering supports the work for peace and reconciliation being done by Presbyterians across the globe. 4 pcusa.org/peace-global
SEPTEMBER 2024 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning: Worship 10:00 in-person or via Zoom Fellowship 11:00 | ||||||
| 1 No communion | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| 8 No communion | 9 9:30am Wayne County Family Coalition | 10 | 11 10:30 WACAM 3:30 Kinship Pointe Chapel | 12 | 13 | 14 8:00-10:00am Electronics Recycling |
| 15 CoffeeHouse Worship | 16 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 17 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 18 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 19 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 20 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 21 |
| 22 | 23 7:00 Session Meeting | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 |
| 29 | 30 |
SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS
6 Anita F.
8 Sharyn P.
24 Misty B.
30 Madison B.
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/
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Worship Bulletins may be found at:https://fpcwayne.com/fpc-wayne-worship-bulletins/
Pastor Teresa Bartlett
402-375-2669 (office)
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First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 