Presbytidings – April 2026
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.”
LOOKING AHEAD TO EASTER
- The Maundy Thursday service with Communion will be held Thursday evening, April 2nd, at 7:00pm.
- Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service with Communion at 10:00am on Sunday, April 5h, 2026. Gail McCorkindale with be the communion elder.
- A special Easter Sunday Fellowship will be hosted by our deacons following the Easter service.
An Invitation to the Final Gathering with Forest Walk Consulting
April 19th
Your Session encourages you to attend the final gathering that we will be having with Becky and Loren from Forest Walk Consulting on April 19 following worship. Becky and Loren will be leading a discussion that needs your participation. They want to ask questions of you based on information you shared with them during this process to ensure they are clear with your concerns and hopes. They also want to bring up possible options going forward for your input. Finally, they want to gather any additional information that you would like to share to ensure that you are heard. Once this meeting has concluded, Forest Walk will be putting together their Mission Study with short term and long term recommendations and sending it to the Session for their review. Please plan to attend!
From the Pastor
“We Are the Church”[*]
Refrain:
I am the church! You are the church! We are the church together!
All who follow Jesus, all around the world! Yes, we are the church together!
Stanza 1:
The church is not a building, the church is not a steeple,
the church is not a resting place, The church is a people.
The familiar “We Are the Church” was written by Presbyterian ministers Richard Kinsey Avery (1934-2020) and Donald Stuart Marsh (1923-2010) it was one of more than 150 songs of their collaborated works. “We are the Church” is an easy to sing tune with deep meaning. [†] The Greek word translated in the New Testament as “church” is Ekklesia (or ecclesia), comes from ek, meaning “out from and to” and kaleo, meaning “to call,” The ekklesia in the New Testament is a group of people, an assembly or a congregation who have been called out of the world and to God; it is the people, not a building, that is the church.[‡] In Jesus’ short ministry he gathered and taught disciples and sent them out to teach and share the gospel of Jesus with others. Jesus laid the foundation for the church, the disciples and the Apostle Paul were instrumental in establishing churches and their ministry and outreach.
1 Peter 2:9-10 gives an overview of those who are “called out” to be God’s people; “… you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to talk about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy.
Followers of Christ are “called out” to talk about God, to be bound together by their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. It can be challenging to be a follower of Christ, so the regular support and encouragement of other Christians is invaluable.
I want to highlight three reasons to participate in a faith community, faith, fellowship, mission, or service to others. In a community of faith, we seek to hear and understand God’s Word as a guide for our lives. Scriptures give us a mirror to see our lives, helping us learn to live in community, care for each other and creation. We often need to be reminded that we are not God and to be humbled by God’s presence and action in our lives.
Being a member of a faith community gives a sense of belonging and rootedness, it is a place where we are known and can know others. In a community of faith, joys and sorrows can be shared, we respond with thanksgiving and praise to God’s blessings as we worship together. As a member of faith community, we meet people of different ages, have different life experiences and backgrounds and we can learn from each other.
In a faith community we are challenged by Jesus’ teachings to live in a way that is often counter to the world around us. Jesus says do not live just for yourself; we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Since the first century the church has cared for widows and orphans and the poor. The church has established schools, hospitals, and other institutions to care for the needy, sick, and orphaned in their communities and around the world. First Presbyterian of Wayne is a Matthew 25 congregation, seeking to address poverty and its effects in our community, caring for our neighbors. We are community of believers who practice their faith, fellowship with each other and seek to offer hope and compassion beyond our walls through the outreach of the Coat Closet, Backpack and Pantry programs. We are the church together, sharing faith and God’s love through our actions.
As we look forward to the return of Rev. Dr. Loren Shellenberger and Becky of Forest Walk consultants, we have an opportunity to reflect further on what church means to us, what living out your faith means and how to focus on who we are and our mission in this place. How we can make connections with others. It will take all of us working together to move forward to find and plant seeds of new opportunities, to remind ourselves and others of the hope that we have (1st Peter 3:15 NIV).
We have been called out to be the family of God in this place let us continue to worship to deepen our faith, spend time in fellowship, supporting and encouraging each other, and reaching out in mission and service to our community and beyond. May God continue to guide us in these endeavors.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Teresa
Save the Date April 19th
Forest Walk Conversation
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope
that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,1 Peter 3:15 NIV.
Forest Walk consultants, Dr. Loren and Becky Shellabarger, are working with the Session and the congregation to help us understand our identity, develop relationships, identify our strengths, focus on God’s mission, and guide us as we move forward. Forest Walk will be leading a large group conversation following worship April 19th, all members and friends are invited to participate. A brunch style lunch will follow worship. In the Church Identity Document provided to the Session the consultants commented about FPC, “Your identity flows around being a gathering place that shares God’s hope for each other and your surrounding community.” What do you think, do you agree? How are we building, sustaining hope in our community? The Forest Walk conversation will follow CoffeeHouse style worship on April 19th. Join the conversation, share your vision for FPC, how we can further impact our community, deepen our relationship, and continue to serve God. All members and friends of the congregation are encouraged to participate.
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 Easter Sunday.
COMMUNITY CHAPEL SERVICES
- COUNTRY VIEW CHAPEL: Pastor will lead chapel at Country View on Sunday, April 5th at 1:30pm.
- KINSHIP POINTE Pastor will lead chapel at Kinship Pointe on Wednesday, April 29th at 3:30pm.
FPC COMMUNION CALENDAR
- Sunday, April 5th at 10:00am. The communion elder will be Gail McCorkindale.
- Sunday, May 3rd at 10:00am. The communion elder will be Gerard Ras.
COFFEEHOUSE WORSHIP
- April 19th CoffeeHouse – Forest Walk Consultants returns for a large group conversation. All members & friends of FPC are invited.
SESSION
- The Session will meet Monday, April 27th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
Homestead Presbyterian Women ‘s Spring Gathering
Saturday, April 25th, 2026
10:00 to 10:30 Coffee and refreshments
10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
First Presbyterian Church of York,
Nebraska.
414 N Delaware Ave, York, NE 68467
Come and hear about mission efforts inside and outside the Presbytery.
There is no charge for this gathering, no reservations are needed.
The gathering Includes lunch. Coffee and treats will be available prior to the meeting
and lunch will be provided.
Hope to see you there.
For questions, please contact
Pastor Teresa Bartlett, 319.795.2911, tbartlett98@gmail.com
or Maggie Horak 402.429.0523
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: https://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 26-31, 2026. 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
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 2026 – First Presbyterian Church
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| Sunday Mornings: 9:00 Handbell Choir 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship | 1 | 2 7:00pm Maundy Thursday Service w/ Communion | 3 | 4 | ||
| 5 Easter Sunday 10:00am Easter Worship 11:00am Easter Fellowship 1:30 Country View Chapel | 6 | 7 1:15pm Kinship Bible Study | 8 10:30 Pastor at WACAM mtg. | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| 12 | 13 | 14 1:15pm Kinship Bible Study | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| 19 CoffeeHouse: Forest Walk Consulting | 20 | 21 1:15pm Kinship Bible Study | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 PW Spring Gathering |
| 26 | 27 7:00 Session Meeting | 28 1:15pm Kinship Bible Study | 29 3:30 Kinship Pointe Chapel | 30 |
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:
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/
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
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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[*] by Richard K. Avery and Donald S. Marsh © 1972 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Accessed 3/31/2026.
[†] Discipleship Ministries | History of Hymns: ‘We Are the Church’ Accessed 3/31/2026.
[‡] What is the definition of ekklesia? – Compelling Truth Accessed 3/31/2026
First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska 