Presbytidings – April 2025
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
The Lenten devotional “From Wilderness to Glory”[*] by N.T. Wright is a 40-day account of Jesus’ path from his baptism to Golgotha. The author includes Jesus’ teaching recorded in John and Luke about loving one another. Recall Jesus’ reply when asked what the greatest commandment was: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment.And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40). Jesus taught a lot about loving our neighbor, also about loving our enemies as recorded in Luke 6:27-28, “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”
Jesus’ point was to teach, to illustrate, an attitude that even in the face of all the world throws at us, the good and the bad, we need to look after each other. Jesus lived and peached about generosity, a glorious, uproarious, absurd generosity. Jesus’ focus was that we are to be kind, generous and loving to each other because that is what God is like. God is generous, generous to a fault, providing good things for all, the deserving as well as those we humans consider undeserving, God loves all of us.
Jesus’ spoke of the extravagant love of his father, he called his followers to display the same type of exuberant generosity and love. Most of us don’t have much trouble being nice to people we like, people we know, perhaps even friendly strangers or neighbors. However, when Jesus teaches, “love your enemies,” that is when the rubber meets the road! Think of the people to whom you are tempted to be nasty, short-tempered with and instead lavish on them generosity. Think of the best thing you can do for the person you have trouble getting along with and go ahead and do it. Think of what you’d really like someone to do for you and do it for a neighbor or even an enemy.
Our God calls us to live differently than the world around us, to love one another, not putting property and possessions above the well-being of our neighbor or even our enemies. When we display this type of love, generosity, others want to know more, want to know why do we do what we do. The world could be a vastly different place if we loved like Jesus.
Jesus was the embodiment of God’s love, showing love for his friends and his enemies, he wept over Jerusalem, the city that had rejected his plea for peace. Wright comments about Jesus “.. when they struck him on the check and ripped the coat and shirt office his back, he went on loving and forgiving” (88). Even on the cross, Jesus asked for forgiveness, for those who crucified him. Jesus’ action on the cross was his most loving and gracious action for all of humanity. Easter is the celebration of Christ’s resurrection, his triumph over death, which means love, grace and forgiveness have triumphed. Alleluia!
Easter Blessings, Pastor Teresa
LENTEN WORSHIP CONTINUES THROUGH APRIL 9th
“From Wilderness to Glory”
For our Lenten worship are using as inspiration the book by N. T. Wright, “From Wilderness to Glory.” We explore the stories of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection during the Lenten season. We hear from each of the gospel writers during our Lenten worship series. Soup suppers are at 6:00 p.m., worship at 7:00 p.m. Please sign up at the Fellowship Hall to provide soup, sandwiches or dessert.
April 2nd – Jesus among friends
April 9th – Jesus among enemies
April 17th – Maundy Thursday – Jesus in the city – Worship with Communion
(7:00 p.m. no meal)
LENTEN SOUP SUPPERS THROUGH APRIL 9th
Lenten Soup and Sandwich suppers continue through April 9th. Soup suppers 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.
LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT & EASTER
Observe a holy Lenten season this year.
- Lenten Soup Suppers & Services continue through April 9th. Soup at 6:00pm, service at 7:00pm.
- Palm Sunday Service on Sunday, April 13th at 10:00am.
- The Maundy Thursday service will be held Thursday evening, April 17th, 7:00pm.
- Easter Sunday Brunch: April 20h at 9:00am
- Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service at 10:00am on Sunday, April 20th, 2025.
ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING
The One Great Hour of Sharing is the church saying, “We’ll be there when you need us.” Since 1949, Presbyterians have joined with millions of other Christians through One Great Hour of Sharing to share God’s love with people experiencing need. Your gifts support ministries of disaster response, refugee assistance and resettlement, food for the hungry, and community development that helps people find safe refuge, start new lives, and work together to strengthen their families and communities. The One Great Hour of Sharing offering will be collected on Palm Sunday & Easter Sunday.
PALM/PASSION OR EASTER SUNDAY READERS & MUSICIANS NEEDED
- Pastor Teresa is looking for participants for the Palm/Passion Sunday service. She would like readers, 3 men and 3 women. Most parts are a paragraph or less, readers will have a script. Please let Pastor Teresa know by April 2nd if you can help. Thanks.
- Also, special music for Palm Sunday or Easter would be appreciated such as solos, duets, instrumentals. Please talk with Jane or Pastor Teresa.
COMMUNITY CHAPEL SERVICES
- KINSHIP POINTE Pastor will lead chapel at Kinship Pointe on Wednesday, April 2nd at 3:30pm.
- RADIO DEVOTIONS: Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of April 14th – 18th at 5:40am.
FPC COMMUNION CALENDAR
- Sunday, April 6th at 10:00am. The communion elder will be Mark Hammer.
- Sunday, May 4th at 10:00am. The communion elder will be Suzanne Sjuts.
COFFEEHOUSE WORSHIP
There will be no CoffeeHouse Worship in April. Join us instead for Easter Brunch, which falls on April 20th, followed by Easter Worship at 10:00 a.m.
SESSION
The Session will meet Monday, April 28th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN SPRING GATHERING
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12 NIV
Homestead Presbyterian Women
Saturday, April 15th, 2025
9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Come join us in person at the North Bend Presbyterian Church
940 Chestnut St., North Bend, NE 68649
402.652.8361 phone
There is no charge for this gathering,
there will be complimentary coffee and treats available in the morning and lunch will be provided.
Hope to see you there!
For questions please contact: Maggie Horak 402-429-0523, mmhlin@outlook.com
Wayne Public Library is seeking volunteers to help with upcoming events.
The annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for 4/5/2025. We are looking for help with hiding 4000 eggs in the library on 4/4 at 6:00 PM. Also looking for help with the actual hunt, 4/5 at 11:00 when we begin to clean up from the event. Anyone interested in helping can contact the library by emailing hheadley@cityofwayne.org.
SUMMER CAMP @ CALVIN CREST
Summer is coming! We promise! And what better way to spend your summer than going to camp learning about Jesus with friends? Calvin Crest is officially open for summer camp registration: http://www.calvincrest.camp Pick out your week of camp and register your kid(s) or grandkid(s). Our young people may apply for a scholarship to pay ½ of the cost of registration. Additional scholarships, based on financial need may be available. Please ask Jenny or Pastor Teresa for an application.
SYNOD SCHOOL
Want to go to camp as a family this summer? Plan to Join Presbyterians from all over the Midwest at Buena Vista College, in Storm Lake, IA July 20-25, 2025. Plan on a week of inspiring worship, educational speakers, arts and crafts, and lots of new friends for the entire family. There is programming available for every age and every interest. Want more information? Go to http://www.lakesandprairies.org/SynodSchool
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 condition, 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.
APRIL BIRTHDAYS
(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?
Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)
April 4 – Bev B.
April 6 – Shari D.
April 26 – Levi H.
April 2025 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Sunday Mornings: 9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship | 1 | 2 3:30 Kinship Pointe Chapel 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lent Service | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 6 * Communion * Pealers play during Worship * Deacons meet during Fellowship 7:00pm * WSC SAAC packs Backpacks | 7 | 8 | 9 10:30 Pastor at WACAM mtg. 6:00pm Soup Supper 7:00pm Lent Service | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 Palm/Passion Sunday | 14 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 15 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 16 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 17 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service with Communion | 18 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 19 |
| 20 Easter Sunday 9:00am Easter Brunch 10:00am Easter Worship | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
| 27 | 28 7:00 Session Meeting | 29 | 30 |
FPC Service Recordings
can be found at:
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FPC Online Worship Bulletins can be found at:
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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First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska
Wayne Food Pantry – Wayne, Nebraska
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Pastor Teresa Bartlett
402-375-2669 (office)
319-795-2911 (cell)
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[*] Wight, N.T.. From Wilderness to Glory; Lent and Easter for Everyone. Westminster John Knox. Louisville.2025. Pages 86-89. Accessed 3/27/2025.
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 