Presbytidings – July/August 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….
From the Pastor………
“While walking through the forest one day, a man found a young eagle who had fallen out of his nest. He took it home and put it in his barnyard where it soon learned to eat and behave like the chickens. One day a naturalist passed by the farm and asked why it was that the king of all birds should be confined to live in the barnyard with the chickens. The farmer replied that since he had given it chicken feed and trained it to be a chicken, it had never learned to fly. Since it now behaved as the chickens, it was no longer an eagle.
“Still it has the heart of an eagle,” replied the naturalist, “and can surely be taught to fly.” He lifted the eagle toward the sky and said, “You belong to the sky and not to the earth. Stretch forth your wings and fly.” The eagle, however, was confused. He did not know who he was, and seeing the chickens eating their food, he jumped down to be with them again.
The naturalist took the bird to the roof of the house and urged him again, saying, “You are an eagle. Stretch forth your wings and fly.” But the eagle was afraid of his unknown self and the world and jumped down once more for the chicken food. Finally the naturalist took the eagle out of the barnyard to a high mountain. There he held the king of the birds high above him and encouraged him again, saying, ” You are an eagle. You belong to the sky. Stretch forth your wings and fly.” The eagle looked around, back towards the barnyard and up to the sky. Then the naturalist lifted him straight towards the sun and it happened that the eagle began to tremble. Slowly he stretched his wings, and with a triumphant cry, soared away into the heavens.
It may be that the eagle still remembers the chickens with nostalgia. It may even be that he occasionally revisits the barnyard. But as far as anyone knows, he has never returned to lead the life of a chicken.”[*]
One’s identity can be shaped by a variety of things, environment, relationships with parents, siblings, and others. We can be influenced by social groups such as classmates, as well as experiences, our beliefs, values, and memories. Social media can also be a powerful force especially for young people. Throughout our lives we ask who we are, what am I to do, we question and explore our identity. A particularly challenging period is the transition into Jr. High and then into high school. These are years of social pressure to fit in and can lead to challenges being satisfied with who we are and how we look.
Our identity shifts and changes throughout life as we encounter new challenges and encounter different experiences. Research suggests there are a number of factors such as health issues, stress, and social support that can influence whether a person experiences an identity crisis. One’s identity might be questioned at any age in life, but especially in times of great change, including beginning new relationships, traumatic events, divorce, moving to a new place, losing, or starting a job, or a serious health condition. [†] Reflecting on and reevaluating our identity is important even if we are not in a crisis.
Humans often struggle with being clear about who they are and what they believe, their values, the impact of change and trauma in their lives, like the eagle we may get comfortable being with the chickens, thinking we are alike. Institutions also need to reassess their identity in light of change, such as technological and cultural shifts. For example, Kodak was once a dominant force in the photography industry and failed to recognize changing trends and transition from film to digital photography effectively. Kodak’s failure to change and adapt to the digital revolution, led to its bankruptcy in 2012. Kodak’s story serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of adapting to technological and cultural changes and the consequences of failing to change or innovate. [‡]
Churches also experience changes which challenge our understanding of who we are and what we are called to do as the people of God. Changes in society, changes in our community, as well as membership signal that it is time that First Presbyterian take a closer look at who we are and what is important to us as a congregation.
Presbyterians in the reformed Christian tradition claim the motto of the Reformation, “Ecclesia Reformata, Semper Reformanda”: the church reformed and always reforming. The church is shaped by our theology, our heritage which informs, inspires, and unites us, and continues to challenge us.
How do we understand ourselves as the people of God? How do we relate to those who do not share our faith? In order to define our identity, our relationships and mission as the people of God we will begin working with Forrest Walk Consulting in September. You can read more about Forrest Walk and the Shellabarger’s in their introduction which follows this letter. Forrest Walk Consulting will guide the congregation in thinking about our identity to our members and to the community. What are our relationships inside and outside the congregation? Consider how well the things FPC does reflect what we think is important. Change is part of growth; we should not be afraid of change and new ideas, new visions. Forrest Walk will guide us in listening for and how the Holy Spirit may be calling us. During August more information will be shared about the process.
The Shellabarger’s will be here on September 14th during worship for the kickoff event. The Session and I are enthusiastic about this opportunity. There will be a variety of opportunities to share your thoughts and opinions about the church this fall. The process needs the input and participation of the congregation to be effective. The outcome will be redefining our identity as the people of God on the corner of 3rd and Lincoln and how we can impact our community and the world as the people of God.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
Save the date- September 14th for the kick off to a new church year
and a new opportunity at First Presbyterian
Greetings in the name of Christ!
Our names are Loren & Becky Shellabarger and together we are Forest Walk Consulting. Our goal is to help churches, particularly smaller churches, find their Identity and Mission. Your church Session has contracted with us to perform a Mission Study for your church and we look forward to meeting you soon! Our kickoff meeting is scheduled for September 14, 2025. We call this the “Church Identity Meeting” and we believe it is a vital piece of the puzzle for churches that is often skipped when discussing Church Mission. Your “Identity” can be summed up as why you do the things you do (as opposed to what things you do). We find it very helpful for a church to spend time discussing the why before getting to the what. This meeting will delve into the “why” of your church. You don’t need to do any homework prior to the meeting, just come prepared to talk about what you think is important for a church. We look forward to beginning this journey with you and to learning more about you as you seek to better understand God’s mission for your church!
The FPC Session invites you to join us for this important meeting in the life of the church following worship on Sunday, September 14, 2025. We will enjoy a time of fellowship following and a church potluck. Bring your favorites dishes to share!
4th OF JULY OFFICE CLOSURE
The FPC Office and Wayne Food Pantry will be closed on Friday, July 4th.
SUMMER COMMUNION DATES
- No communion for the month of July 2025.
- Sunday, August 3rd. Communion Elder, Brian Bowers.
COMMUNITY CHAPEL SERVICES
Pastor Teresa will lead chapel services at the following locations through the summer:
- COUNTRY VIEW CHAPEL Pastor will lead chapel on Sunday, July 27th at 1:30pm.
- RADIO DEVOTIONS Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of July 14th – 18th at 5:40am.
- Pastor will also be giving KTCH devotions August 18th – 22nd at 5:40am.
- KINSHIP POINTE CHAPEL Please join Pastor Teresa as she leads chapel at Kinship Pointe on Wednesday, August 6th at 3:30pm.
COFFEEHOUSE WORSHIP DATES
CoffeeHouse Worship continues this summer on the following dates:
- July 20th at 10:00am – Discussion leader & host are still needed.
- August 17th at 10:00am – Discussion and Fellowship hosts are needed.
HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY MEETING
The Homestead Presbytery will meet at Calvin Crest on Saturday, August 16th.
PASTOR’S STUDY LEAVE
- Pastor Teresa will be out on study leave Monday, July 21st – Monday, July 28th.
- 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 4h, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall
FOOD PANTRY & BACKPACK NEWS 2025
The Food Pantry has served approximately 100 requests so far this year. The Backpack Program distributed approximately 4,000 food bags in the 2024/25 academic year. We serve the Wayne Community Schools, St. Mary’s and Tower Schools. We distribute backpacks during the summer to children who visit the Food Pantry. 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.
July 2025 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Each Sunday Morning: 10:00 Worship11:00 Fellowship | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 Church office & Food Pantry Closed | 5 | |
| 6 No communion | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| 13 | 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 | 18 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 19 |
| 20 10:00am CoffeeHouse Worship | 21 Pastor on study leave | 22 Pastor on study leave | 23 Pastor on study leave | 24 Pastor on study leave | 25 Pastor on study leave | 26 Pastor on study leave |
| 27 Pastor on study leave 1:30pm + CountryView Chapel | 28 No Session Meeting | 29 | 30 | 31 |
July Birthdays
10 Shea S.
21 Josephine P.
24 Mark H.
29 Marta P.
LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING
PRESBYTERIAN HYMN #563
Lift ev’ry voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty.
Let our rejoicing rise, high as the list’ning skies,
Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us.
Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,
Let us march on till victory is won.
Stony the road we trod, bitter the chast’ning rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died;
Yet, with a steady beat, have not our weary feet
come to the place for which our people sighed?
We have come over a way that with tears has been watered,
We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered;
Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last
where the bright gleam of our bright star is cast.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears,
Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;
Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light,
keep us forever in the path, we pray.
Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,
Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee.
Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand,
True to our God, true to our native land.
August 2025 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1 | 2 | |||||
| 3 10:00am + Communion | 4 7:00pm Session | 5 | 6 3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| 10 | 11 | 12 8:30am All day Salvation Army set-up & give away school supplies | 13 10:30pm WACAM | 14 | 15 | 16 Homestead Presbytery Meeting @ Calvin Crest |
| 17 10:00am CoffeeHouse Worship | 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 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 22 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living | 23 |
| 24 | 25 | 26 | 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)
319-795-2911 (cell)
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[*] Theology News and Notes, October 1976, quoted in Multnomah Message, Spring, 1993, p. 1. Sermon Illustrations Accessed June 24, 2025.
[†] How to Recognize and Cope with an Identity Crisis. Accessed June 24, 2025.
[‡] The rise and fall of Kodak –Accessed June 24, 2025.
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 