Presbytidings – February 2022

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……

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Psalm 46:1-7

While the world is shifting and changing around us Psalm 46 affirms that God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help. 2021 followed 2020 in being a time of change and disorientation. The world experienced fires, floods, tornados and other storms and disasters and the COVID pandemic. COVID brought trials, trauma, anger, frustration, and loss over the last 22 months. By now most of us know one or more people who have encountered COVID in one form or another. We have all been changed over these last almost two years and continue to face difficult days.

In spite of the challenges and changes this congregation encountered the annual report reminds us there is much to be celebrated. We maintained in person worship, adapted some aspects of worship to include those who desired to worship virtually. The Session’s attention to recommended practices and procedures allowed us to worship together safely. Was 2021 a normal year, certainly not, but God’s people still gathered for worship and celebrated the sacraments. The outreach programs of the Backpack, Food Pantry and Coat Closet continued to assist people in the community.

One of the strongest aspects a faith community offers, pre- and post-pandemic, is building and maintaining relationships within our faith community as well as helping us strengthen our relationship with God. This was evidenced by a survey I ran across in Presbyterian Outlook which was taken in June of 2020 by Barna. At a time many churches were not meeting in person the survey asked people what they missed most about in person worship. The results were as follows:

• 24% missed taking communion,
• 23% missed socializing and fellowship,
• 21% missed listening to a live sermon,
• 17% missed passing the peace,
• 16% missed live music.

The survey seems to indicate that a big part of our church experience is relationships being nurtured with other members of the congregation as well as with God as we celebrate the sacraments, hear God’s word shared aloud. We proclaim our desire for a relationship with God as we sing and praise God together.

We may wonder what the future of the church is after or as the pandemic continues, frankly no one knows, but these may be days of opportunity and innovation. The church can and should be a part of how we deal with all that has been lost as well as help us reorient ourselves to a new future. Gathering for worship and reestablishing those relationships with each other and God will strengthen our resilience and remind us God has not abandoned us.

 The pandemic didn’t cause declining attendance or membership but neither did it slow the decline. First Presbyterian has proven it can adapt to change, and that will be necessary as we move forward into a “new normal,”  we need to find a new way of being God’s people  in a disrupted world, a new way to build relationships with people and share the love of God.

As a community of faith, we should be together on Sunday morning to hear the prayer requests of one another, to hear how God has answered prayers and to offer our worship and praise to our Triune God.

 The Outreach Committee is working on ways broaden opportunities for fellowship and reach out to encourage others to join our church family. Church is communal and participatory, we engage, we give, we encourage, we do life together. As a congregation we need to work together to build up this community of faith. We need every member to participate in worship and the life the church for FPC to flourish as grow as I believe it can. Moving forward into an unknown future will not be quick or easy but as a faith community, listening for and trusting in God’s guidance I believe we will find our way.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Teresa

FPC ANNUAL REPORT

Pastor Teresa’s letter was from the 2021 Annual Meeting held on Sunday, January 30^th. If you would like a copy of the report, you can pick up a copy on the Opportunity Table or contact Jenny at fpcwayne@gmail.com

COMMUNION

• We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, February 6, 2021. Mark Hammer will serve as the Communion Elder.
• Communion will also be held on Sunday, March 6^th. John Fuelberth will serve as the Communion Elder.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY

Homestead presbytery will gather on Saturday, February 19th, via Zoom. Contact Pastor Teresa for the registration link.

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, February 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. Jane O’Leary will provide devotions.

LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT & EASTER

Observe a holy Lenten season this year.

• We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service March 2^nd beginning at 7:00pm.
• Palm Sunday Service on Sunday, April 10th at 10:00am.
• The Maundy Thursday service with communion will be held Thursday evening, April 14^th.
• Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service with Communion at 9:00am on Sunday, April 17^th, 2022.

MID-WEEK LENTEN SERIES

MEALS WITH JESUS

Most of us eat three meals a day. Over the span of a year, that’s 1,095 meals. We celebrate events in our lives with meals, we share with family in our conversation around the table. Just as the table or a meal is a common element of our lives so the table is one of the most common elements in the gospel of Luke. 

Jesus ate with a variety of people and used the time gathered to teach, correct and challenge his fellow diners.   In Luke there are 10 stories of Jesus dining with various people. During Lent we will be looking at six stories of Jesus sitting down to a meal with others. Jesus’ example encourages us to invite friends, outcasts and even enemies to know God’s story of love and salvation through sharing table fellowship together.   

March 2^nd –         Ash Wednesday

March 9^th –         The Banquet at Levi’s House (Luke 5:27-39)

March 16^th –       Feeding the 5,000 (Luke 9:10-17)

March 23^rd –       Hospitality at the House of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42)

March 30^th –       Dinner at the Pharisee’s House (Luke 14:1-24)

April 6^th –           Hospitality at the House of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)

April 14^th –         Maundy Thursday – The Last Supper (Luke 22:7-38)

FPC CHURCH DIRECTORY

Please submit address or phone number changes for you and for your family members to fpcwayne@gmail.com or call the office at 402-375-2669. Thank you!

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WAYNE

THE SESSION 2022

Elder                                                                          Class                                     

Shari Dunklau (Administration, Fellowship)           2022                                       

John Fuelberth (Property)                                        2022                                       

Mark Hammer (Discipleship, Fellowship)                2023                                       

Kent Pulfer (Administration)                                    2023                                       

Jane O’Leary (Outreach, Worship)                           2024                                       

Suzanne Sjuts (Outreach, Worship)                          2024                                       

BOARD OF DEACONS 2021

Deacon                                                                      Class                                     

Amy Bowers                                                             2022                                       

Jan Liska                                                                    2022                                       

Connie Bargstadt                                                     2023                                       

Karen Johnson                                                          2023                                       

Misty Beair                                                                2024                                       

Tiffanny Heese                                                         2024                                       

COMMITTEES OF THE CONGREGATION 2021

Nominating Team: Shari Dunklau, Jean Griess, Karen Johnson, Mark McCorkindale, & Gerard Ras

Financial Review: Gerard Ras

Officers of the Corporation: Kent Pulfer, President; Shari Dunklau, Vice-President;

Jane O’Leary, Secretary; Jodi Pulfer, Treasurer

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

10      Jodi P.

20      Karen M.

25      Pat S., Gabriel P.

27      Jan L.

28      Amy B.

Save the date for the 2022 PW Synod Gathering

June 16-19, 2022

Hilton Garden Inn

1132 Larsen Park Rd

Sioux City, Iowa  51106

PW:  Better Together Tied Together With Love

Ecclesiastes 4:12 (NIV)

A cord of three strands is not easily broken

Registration Fee – $100.00 for entire gathering

Commuter fees – Thursday (includes meal) $25.00

Friday – $75.00, Saturday – $50.00, Sunday only – No charge

Enclose check payable to ‘PW-SLAP

Return completed Registration with registration fee before May 15, 2022

To:  Maggie Horak, 5601 Barrington Park Dr, Lincoln, NE  68516

Homestead Presbyterian Women will be offering some scholarships to this event, watch for further details.

Dixon County 4-H Junior Leaders Soup Dinner

The Dixon County 4-H Junior Leaders will be having a Soup dinner on Sunday, February 20, 2022 at the Dixon Community from 11:00am – 1:00pm. They will be serving chicken noodle soup, chili, desserts and a drink for a free-will donation. Raffle tickets are for sale now until the drawing at 1:00pm the day of the dinner. The money raised will go for scholarships and Citizen Washington Focus Trips.

February 2022 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: 9:00 Bells Practice 10:00 Worship 11:00 Fellowship		1	2 3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel	3	4	5 9:00am PEO mtg. in Fellowship Hall
6 10:00am Communion Mark Hammer, communion elder	7	8	9	10	11	12
13 1:30pm Wayne CountryView Chapel	14	15	16	17	18	19 10:00am Homestead Presbytery via Zoom
20 7:00pm WSC Students pack backpacks	21 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	22 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	23 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	24 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	25 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	26 9:30am Mobile Food Pantry Truck at Journey CC
27	28 7:00pm Session Mtg.	March 1	2 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service	3	4	5

I’m Not Just February

By Annette Wynne

I’m not just February

With winds that blow

All day, and piled-up snow;

I’m Washington and Lincoln, too,

Who kept our country’s flag for you!

I’m Valentine of airy grace-

With golden hearts and hearts of lace

And pretty cards that people send,

Quite as a secret, to a friend.

Though I am short of days and small,

I’m quite a big month, after all!

Accessed from https://discoverpoetry.com/poems/february-poems/

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office/ Wayne Food Pantry/Wayne Coat Closet

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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/

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:

https://fpcwayne.com/fpc-wayne-worship-bulletins/

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)

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

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Presbytidings – January 2022

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….

A Prayer for the New Year

Robert Louis Stevenson

Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings,

And teach us to be merry with clear hearts.

May the new day make us happy to be Your children

And each new evening brings us to our beds with grateful thoughts,

forgiving and forgiven. Amen.

What New Year’s resolutions did you make this year? Did you resolve to change or add a practice or a habit, to lose weight, exercise more, eat more vegetables, or spend more time with family? Perhaps a resolution we should make is to let go of things; like anger, bitterness and replace those attitudes with compassion, kindness, and forgiveness.

Let’s start with resolving to be kind to each other. Theologian, Henry Nouwen^[*], wrote “Kindness is a beautiful human attribute. When we say, “She is a kind person” or “He surely was kind to me,“ we express a warm feeling. In our competitive and often violent world, kindness is not the most frequent response. But when we encounter it, we know that we are blessed. Is it possible to grow in kindness, to become a kind person” Yes, but it requires discipline? To be kind means to treat another person as your”kin” your intimate relative. We say, “We are kin” or “he is next of kin” To be kind is to reach out to someone as being of “kindred” spirit.

                Nouwen goes on to say “Here is the great challenge; All people, whatever their color, religion, or sex, belong to humankind and are to be kind to one another, treat one another as brothers and sisters. There is hardly a day in our lives in which we are not called to this.” We are reminded that kindness isn’t the only attribute we are to work to cultivate in our lives. The author of Colossians wrote (3:12-14 ESV): Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all this put-on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

These are attitudes and actions that God desires we share with each other year-round and should be a part of every year’s resolutions. We can only do this because God’s love empowers and encourages each of us us to cultivate in our lives peace and harmony with one another.

Grace and peace to you,

Pastor Teresa  

 SESSION

The Session will meet on January 22^nd from 9:00 to 12:30 for a time of training and planning for 2022. All Session members including the incoming class of elders should plan to attend. We will be reviewing polices of the congregation as well as planning for communion, monthly devotions and organizing Session teams. 

FPC ANNUAL MEETING

Our annual congregational meeting will follow worship on Sunday, January 30^th. If you are responsible for a particular ministry (e.g., deacons, music, nominating, church school, property), please submit a brief report to the church office (fpcwayne@gmail.com) by Friday, 1/14/2022.

SESSION & DEACON TEAM REPORTS DUE

2020 Session members & Deacons are reminded to compile a summary report for your area which will need to be sent to the office by Friday, January 14th. 

THANK-YOU

Thank you for the wonderful gift from the congregation, your generosity is deeply appreciated. Thank-you also to each one who sent a card or remembered me in other ways. As we begin our fifth year of ministry together, I am every more grateful for your gifts of friendship, your support and encouragement as we share in the ministry of First Presbyterian Church.  Grace and peace to each of you, Pastor Teresa.

Thank you to the FPC church family for your generosity this Christmas season. I am grateful for your gifts and support. Jenny

Thank-you to all who assisted during the Advent season as lectors, greeters and Advent candle lighters.

November 28th – Ken & Karen Marra

December 5^th – Brian & Amy Bowers

December 12th – Austin & Michelle Galles & family

December 19th – Larry & Tiffanny Heese

December 24 – Mark, Jenny & Nina Hammer

Thank-you to Ronda Ras for accompanying our Christmas Eve service.

Thank-you to Ken & Jan Liska who donated poinsettias for the Advent season.

THANK-YOU PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS

December 12^th the congregation enjoyed many seasonal favorites performed by the Presbyterian Pealers during worship. It was wonderful to have the bells in worship again. Thank you to all the members of the choir for their dedication and especially director Jay O’Leary.

“A CHRISTMAS TO BELIEVE IN”    

Thank-you to all the young and young at heart who participated in all church play “A Christmas to Believe In” on December 19^th. The narrators, Gabe Peitz, Maria Ras, and Solomon Peitz told the Christmas story and our FPC actors showed the story. You can see the service on the FPC Facebook page where the video of the service is posted. Thank-you to Ronda Ras for her work in organizing and the following people for participating.

Narrator #1 – Gabe Peitz

Narrator #1b – Maria Ras

Narrator #2 – Solomon Peitz

Mary – Breanna Chase

Joseph – Gabe Peitz

Angel – Maria Ras

Elizabeth – Ronda Ras

Zechariah – Gerard Ras

Townspeople – Jackie Owens, Pastor Teresa Bartlett

Angels – Candyce Peitz, Maria Ras & Suzanne  Sjuts

Shepherds – Ronda Ras: Head Shepherd, Jacobi Galles, Sydney Galles

Herod – Gordon Granberg

Wise Men – Mark Hammer, Nina Hammer, Kent Pulfer

Advisor to Herold – Gail McCorkindale

The members of the congregation are the messengers taking the story into the world.

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

The Christmas Joy Offering is one of the four denominational offerings, the others are One Great Hour of Sharing, The Pentecost Offering, Peace and Global Witness Offering. The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage. Thank-you for your generosity to this special offering. Our collection for this year was $265.00.

DECEMBER SURPRISE REVERSE OFFERING

December 5^th each family in worship received an envelope with $30.00. Members were asked to use the money to bless someone else during the holiday season. Members could gift all the money to one person or organization or divide it up between several. Each envelope also contained a foam ornament which was to be used to record on the back how the money was spent, no names just how the money was used. Thirty envelopes were distributed that morning, twenty-one have been returned. If by chance you haven’t returned your ornament, please feel free to return it to Pastor Teresa.

A variety of agencies and individuals benefited from our December Surprise gifts. The Salvation Army and Haven House had the most donations. There were also donations to Camp Calvin Crest, Wayne Library (to pay overdue book fines), Ronald McDonald House, Heifer International. Some gifts were very personal and included meeting the needs of a student, helping a friend with gas, helping a single Mom, buying wreaths, and delivering to people to spread Christmas cheer. Thank-you to everyone for helping share the love of Christ this holiday season.

A New Year Prayer

God of our lives, you will be faithful in time to come, as in years gone by.

We praise You for goodness undeserved, and gifts received we cannot number.

For life and health and loving friends; for work and leisure; for all grand things

You give, we thank You, Lord God.

Above all, we praise You for Jesus Christ,

 who lifts our hopes and leads us in Your way.

 Praise and reverence, honor, and glory, to You, great God;

through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

PRAYER CONCERNS

Prayers for the family & friends of Martha Svoboda who passed away on Christmas Day. Prayers for Joann Proett. Prayers of healing for Braydn McCorkindale who is recovering from a broken leg. Prayers for Marty Hettinger (mother of Dawn Fuelberth. Prayers for Misty Beair, Milton Owens (for sight and general health), continued healing for Bev Beeson, Diane Confer (sister-in-law to Pastor Teresa), Joseph Woerdemann (friend of the congregation), and Eric Liska. And prayers for those who are homebound.

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

                   2          Larry H.

                   5          Terry B.

                   9          Jenny H.

                   10        Emily A.

                   11        Joyce V.

                   20       Kent P.                     

                   27        Jim P.

                   28       Jackie O.     

                   31        Elaine F., Shannon P.

The Northeast Nebraska Rural Health Network Survey

The Northeast Nebraska Rural Health Network is inviting those who live and work in the counties of Cedar, Dixon, Thurston, and Wayne counties to complete a community health survey.  This information will help us develop a more accurate picture of how we can work together to make a healthier community for everyone. This survey will only take about 5 minutes and your answers will be kept separate from any personal identifying information you provide.  Completing a survey will also make you eligible for a drawing for one of four “Healthy Living” prizes worth $50 each.  The survey will close on January 31, 2022.  Find a link to the Survey here: Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management    

January 2022 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: Handbell Choir 9:00Worship 10:00Fellowship 11:00						1 New Year’s Day!   Pastor on vacation
2                     Pastor on vacation   Service was canceled due to poor weather	3 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   Pastor on vacation	4 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   Pastor on vacation	5 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	6 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	7 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	8
9 Communion   1:30 Pastor leads Countryview Chapel   4:00 Cub Scouts	10 9:30 Wayne Family Coalition Meeting	11	12	13	14 9:30 Salvation Army Mtg.   Session & Deacon Annual reports due	15
16	17	18	19	20	21	22 9:00-12:30 Session Retreat
23   4:00pm Cub Scouts	24	25 1:00pm Homestead Council Meeting	26	27	28	29
30   Annual Congregational Meeting & Installation of Deacons & Elders	31

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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)

---

[*] Nouwen, Henry J.M. Bread for the Journey. Harper Collins. San Francisco= 1997. February 4^th. Accessed 12/30/21

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 ……

 In the book, “It’s a Wonderful Life” author David McLaughlan writes a series of devotions based on Christmas classic songs and movies.^[*] I learned a lot about the carol “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” from McLaughlan’s book. The carol is based on the 1863 poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow entitled “Christmas Bells.” The poem which contained seven stanzas was written at the height of the American Civil War when death and despair were prevelant. When Longfellow penned the words to his poem the country was still months away from Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9^th, 1865.

Longfellow knew about despair; his wife had died and he had been injured in a fire in their home. Then, one of Longfellow’s two sons enlisted in the Union Army against his father’s wishes. As December 1863 moved toward Christmas, Longfellow found himself nursing his war-wounded son. Not many of us would have sung God’s praises at that moment.

Longfellow turned to poetry, he wrote “Christmas Bells” on Christmas day of 1863.[†] A few stanzas of his poem “Christmas Bells” seem surprisingly upbeat, he wrote of an “unbroken song” centuries of church bells proclaiming a message of peace on earth and goodwill to all.

Then the cannons of the war exploded into his verse, and all that hope seemed to have been for nothing. Hate, it seemed, was the dominate force on earth and not knowing if his son would recover (he did recover), not knowing if the war would ever end (it did) at that time however hate’s dominion must have seemed a real possibility. Longfellow’s faith was stronger than his fear, he wrote: 

God is not dead; nor doeth He sleep!

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

with peace on earth, good will to men.

Longfellow’s poem reflected the prior years of the war’s despair, while ending with a confident hope of triumphant peace. In 1872 John Baptiste Calkin omitted the two stanzas which contained references to the war and slightly rearranged the remaining five stanzas giving us the carol in its present form. John Baptiste Calkin also gave us the memorable tune.^[‡]

There have been very few years where a war hasn’t raged somewhere in the world. But there has been no year where peace and goodwill have not also been in the world. There are still battles to be fought in the world and in our lives, each one is another step closer to the ultimate victory. As Christians we look forward to the day of Christ’s return and the peace he will bring.

We live in different days than Longfellow, but we still face many of the same challenges and troubles. Hate seems so prevalent and good will in short supply. Yet we can sing, even when the struggles around seem too much, when you feel surrounded by despair, sing “God is not dead, nor doth He sleep! The wrong shall fail, the right prevail…”  When we hear the bells of Christmas may we be encouraged to continue to work as God’s agents until there is peace on earth for all!

Blessings,

Pastor Teresa

“Christmas Bells”
(The original poem, complete with all seven stanzas)
“I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet

The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
Then from each black accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead; nor doth he sleep!
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men!”

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE: December 24^th, 5:30pm

Worship Christ, the newborn King! Wednesday, December 24, at 5:30pm. Bring your loved ones for a special candle-lit service celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on December 5^th with Mark Hammer as the communion elder. Communion in January will be on the 9^th.

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTING 2021

Thank you to the following who will be assisting with Advent Candlelighting:

November 28^th Candle of Hope:               Ken & Karen Marra

December 5^th Candle of Peace:                 Brian & Amy Bowers

December 12^th Candle of Joy:                   Austin & Michelle Galles and family

December 19^th Candle of Love:                Larry & Tiffanny Heese

December 24^th Love – Christ Candle:       Mark, Jenny & Nina Hammer

FPC GAME DAY! 

Come one, come all…our game night has become a game day, and will be Sunday, December 12^th at 2:00pm. Bring games and snacks to share.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

Poinsettias may be displayed in the sanctuary in honor or memory of the loved ones in your life. We will acknowledge the arrangements in the Christmas Eve program. Please inform someone Jenny in the church office of the details. You can bring them anytime. We would ask that you take them home after the December 24^th worship service.

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Annually Presbyterians Today offer an Advent devotional. This year the Advent and Christmas devotional is entitled “Come to Bethlehem and Be Nourished.” The devotional is interactive, it can be read online or downloaded and printed.  Each Sunday includes a video devotional.  In addition the devotional invites you to experience bread making as a spiritual practice. This year’s devotional invites you to be part of building a tighter-knit community right where you are. Share the devotional with friends and family. Read and reflect together as a small group meeting over Zoom or in person. You are also encouraged to bake bread and share the loaves as gifts with others. Each Friday in Advent, a bread recipe will be offered. You are invited to make more than one loaf, so that you can share one and keep the other to be part of your Sunday Advent practice of having a simple meal. Enjoy the bread as you light the Advent candle as part of your breakfast or later in the day for supper. For either meal, keep it simple: bread, butter and jam for breakfast or bread and soup for dinner. Advent was originally viewed as a winter Lent. So, a focus on simple meals during a season of holiday feasting is a wonderful spiritual practice.  And for those whose baking skills are not the best or if time for bread making is not possible, seek out artisan bread in your neighborhood at bakeries or specialty shops. The local bakers will appreciate the extra business.  You can find the devotional link here –  https://www.presbyterianmission.org/ministries/today/advent2021/

In addition other on line Advent devotionals include Biola University’s Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts which hosts an Advent devotional which features music and art at  https://ccca.biola.edu/advent/2021/

Another Advent and Christmas series can be found on d365.org  This year’s devotional is entitled – “Following the Star,” the music with these devotions is always wonderful.

You are encouraged to look at these options for your Advent devotions.

MITTEN TREE

The Deacons request your help in decorating our virtual mitten tree this holiday season with gloves, hats, scarves and mittens. The tree will be in Fellowship Hall in December.

WAYNE FOOD PANTRY

We are expecting a very busy holiday season at the Food Pantry. With gifts from the community we were able to provide 12 baskets to Wayne Community School families and 15 Head-Start families at Thanksgiving, and we hope to provide about the same number this Christmastime. We will also be distributing nearly 125 bags with peanut butter, jelly & a loaf of bread to the children on the Wayne Schools Backpack Program. Please consider donating to the Food Pantry. There is a great need in our community, please be generous. Please contact Jenny at the church office fpcwayne@gmail.com if you have any questions.                                                                                        

ALTERNATIVE GIFT GIVING IDEAS TO SPREAD CHRISTMAS CHEER

• Local Gifts for Kids: Help area children have a Merry Christmas through the Gifts for Kids program.   Select a tag from the Gifts for Kids tree at Bomgaars. There are a variety of ages of children and requests. Once you’ve selected a tag(s), leave the bottom of the tag with a cashier. Shop for the items and return the unwrapped gifts with the tag to Bomgaars.
• Here are some Web sites that will inspire you to give gifts that will make a real difference in people’s lives:

www.worldvision.org

www.samaritanspurse.org

www.compassion.com

www.churchworldservice.org

www.mbfoundation.org

www.heifer.org

calvincrest@calvincrest.org

specialofferings.pcusa.org/christmasjoy.html

presbyteriangifts.org

The Wayne Coat Closet

The Wayne Food Pantry

CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING

The Christmas Joy Offering has been a cherished Presbyterian tradition since the 1930s. The Offering distributes gifts equally to the Assistance Program of the Board of Pensions and to Presbyterian-related schools and colleges equipping communities of color. The Assistance Program provides critical financial support to church workers and their families. Presbyterian-related schools and colleges provide education and leadership development while nurturing racial and ethnic heritage. This has been a Presbyterian commitment for nearly 140 years. We will receive the Christmas Joy offering on Sunday, December 19^th, however you may make your gift any time before December 19^th. Please note on your check or offering envelope that the gift is for the Christmas Joy offering.

COMMUNITY CAROLING ON WHEELS: Sunday, December 12th

Last year, as you might recall, First UMC helped coordinate a Community Caroling Event that was open to the entire city. An hour of air-time was donated by the radio station, and they played a selection of Christmas songs that community members could sing along to at home, in their cars while looking at Christmas lights, or even parked at Kinship Pointe, Countryview, the hospital, and other locations across the city. 

Because of the response we received after last year’s event, we are doing it again! This year’s Community Caroling Event will be Sunday, December 12, from 7pm-8pm. Songs are pending, but we will have “song books” that can be printed off our website. I will also share the song book document with each of our churches to provide to your members.

More to come on details, but please don’t hesitate to let me know if there are any questions.

Pastor Nick Baker

First United Methodist Church – Wayne

PASTOR’S VACATION & STUDY LEAVE

• Pastor will be on bereavement leave Wednesday, December 8 – Wednesday, December 15. Pastor Kathleen Splitt will fill the pulpit on Sunday, December 12, 2021.
• Pastor will be on vacation December 26^th, 2021 – January 7^th, 2022.
• No service will be held on Sunday, Dec. 26, 2021. (Communion will be held on January 9^th.)
• Rev. Norman Pavey will be leading worship service on Sunday, January 2, 2022. There will be no ZOOM component.
• If you have a pastoral need while Pastor Teresa is away, please contact the office at (402)375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com

HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS

• Monday, 12/20/2021 through Thursday, 12/23/2021, open 9am – 1pm
• Monday, 12/27/2021 through Friday, December 31, 2021, closed
• Pastor Teresa will also be on leave Sunday, December 26– Saturday, January 8, 2022. Please, do not hesitate to leave a message if you have a need at either (402)375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com

TAX REMINDER

All donations for the 2021 calendar year need to be to Anita Fuelberth no later than Thursday, December 30, 2021 for tax purposes.

SESSION

• The Session will not meet in December. They will gather for a retreat January 22^nd from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Snow date for the retreat is January 29^th. 
• 2021 Session members & Deacons are reminded to compile a summary report for your area which will need to be sent to the office by Friday, January 14th. Thank you!

FPC ANNUAL MEETING

Our annual congregational meeting will be after worship on Sunday, January 30^th. If you are responsible for a particular ministry (e.g., music, nominating, church school, property), please submit a brief report to the church office (fpcwayne@gmail.com) by Friday, January 14^th.

PMC ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING REMEMBRANCE SERVICE

The PMC Annual Tree Lighting Remembrance Service will be held Sunday, December 5th at 2:00pm in the Providence Medical Center Auditorium.

NEW ADDRESS

Joann P. has moved to Countryview Please contact the church office for her new info. Calls and visits are encouraged!

THANK YOU!

Our thanks to our session members and to our congregation for decorating the sanctuary this Christmas season.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

                               5          Tiffanny H.

                               7          Candyce P.

                               14        Randy D.

            18        Beau B.

            22        Nina H.

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here?

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

December 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: Handbell Choir 9:00Worship 10:00Fellowship 11:00	5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	1 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	2 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	3 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	4
5 *Communion *FPC Christmas Surprise! 4pm Cub Scouts	6	7	8 Pastor on bereavement leave	9 Pastor on leave	10 Pastor on leave	11 10am – 12noon Salvation Army Bell Ringing (Pastor on leave)
12 2pm FPC Game Day Pastor on leave	13 Pastor on leave	14 Pastor on leave	15 Pastor on leave	16	17	18
19 *Christmas Joy Offering *Christmas Program	20 Church Office open	21 Church Office open	22 Church Office open	23 Church Office open	24 Church Office closed   5:30pm Christmas Eve Service	25   Merry Christmas   Jesus is born!
26 No Service	27 Church Office closed	28 Church Office closed	29 Church Office closed	330 Church Office closed	31 Church Office closed	1

LOOKING FORWARD TO 2021

• Worship with Communion will be held Sunday, January 9, 2022.
• The Session will gather for a retreat on Saturday, January 22^nd from 9am-noon.
• The FPC Annual Meeting will be held after worship January 30, 2022.

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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)

---

[*]  McLaughlan, David. “It’s A Wonderful Life” A 31-Day Devotional based on Favorite Christmas Classics. Barbour Uhrichsville, Ohio. 2013 pg.61-64. Accessed 11/21/2021.

[†] The Story Behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (whatsaiththescripture.com)  Accessed 12/1/2021

[‡] The Story Behind “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” (whatsaiththescripture.com)  Accessed 12/1/2021

The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787

(402) 375-2669 + http://www.fpcwayne.com

“Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy God forever.”

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME ENDS

Daylight savings ends Sunday, November 7^th at 2:00am. Set your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday night, November 6^th and enjoy a little extra rest!

From the Pastor……

We’ve turned the calendar to November and all around us nature is showing off her fall splendor in flowers, trees, and fields. We recently had our first frost as a result, the next day leaves were drifting to the ground all over town. I stood for several minutes looking out the kitchen window at church watching a tree in the back yard as its leaves fell like a gentle rain. The ground beneath the tree was quickly covered by a golden blanket of leaves.

Trees have an unspoken knowledge about when it’s time to let go of their leaves and prepare for change, and the next season of life. I’ve seen this anonymous quote recently on social media: ‘the trees are about to show us how lovely it is to let things go.’ Nature sets a good example for us in that there are times we need to let go.

Often however, we are like the last leaf clinging to the tree refusing to let go, refusing change, refusing a new season, refusing even death. God’s creation shows us that even letting go, death brings new life. The leaves that fall become nutrients for the soil, plants and other creatures, the leaves sustain and bring new life even as they wither and die. Nature doesn’t look backward to what was but moves on and prepares for what is next.

What things should you let go of? What are you afraid to let go of and why? What would be helpful and healthy for you to let go of; Anger, fear, anxiety, self-doubt, frustration, the need to control? We all experience times of difficulty and worry about our health, our family, and our finances. It can be tempting to try and control every aspect of our lives, from our personal life to our work life, however sometimes we must let go. Circumstances such as illness remind us there are some things we can’t and shouldn’t try to control. We should do what we can to address our challenges and issues but often it IS best if we pray and give our worries to God. These are just some of the things we should let go of and by letting go, even letting them die, we would be healthier in body and spirit.

The Psalmist, in response to those times when life seems hard and unfair, wrote: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.”  Let us take a lesson from nature as all around us she gives us visual reminders to let go and let God take charge.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Teresa

STEWARDSHIP REMINDER

Members and friends of the congregation should have received a year to date statement of giving for 2021 and a 2022 intention of giving form. If you did not receive this information please contact Anita Fuelberth.

You are asked to prayerfully review your information and return the intention of giving form to Anita Fuelberth right away. You can mail the form to Anita or drop your envelope in the container at church. This information is helpful to the Session in planning for 2022. Thank You for your support and dedication to FPC.

DID YOU KNOW?

            Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) have become a great way for people 70½ or older to take all or part of their Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) from their Traditional IRA. The recent tax code changed the standard deduction for those over 65 to $26,600 for married filing jointly or $13,600 for single filers. Thus for many of us our church pledges will no longer be included in an itemized deduction. However, by making all or part of our pledge a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from the IRA custodian or trustee to the church the distribution will not be included as taxable income to the IRA owner. Qualified Charitable Distributions can also exceed one’s specific RMD amount and still not be taxed.

            While Qualified Charitable Distributions are not complex there are certain requirements and steps that should be followed so check with your tax professional.

-Ken Marra, Financial Advisor (Edward Jones)

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on November 7^th with Shari Dunklau as the communion elder.

DECEMBER SURPRISE!  

The month of December and the Advent season are always filled with surprises and waiting. On December 4^th the Session and Pastor Teresa have a surprise to share with the congregation. However, in order to learn what the surprise is, you must be present in worship on Sunday the 4^th.  So save the date of December 4^th and don’t be late to church!!

PRESBYTERIAN PEALERS

The Presbyterian Pealers Bell Choir practice has begun. We are meeting on Sundays at 9:00am. 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 JayO@inebraska.com

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY

Our presbytery will meet via Zoom on November 11^th at 10:00am. John Fuelberth & Pastor Teresa will attend.

PRAYER FOR VETERANS DAY

God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation,
who laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom…

We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war
and whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day…

We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm’s way:
shield them from danger and bring them home, soon…

Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies
to the work of justice and a harvest of peace…

Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor!

May the peace you left us, the peace you gave us,
be the peace that sustains, the peace that saves us.

Christ Jesus, hear us! Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!

Amen.

From – ConcordPastor.blogspot.com

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING

The Session has called a congregational meeting for November 14^th following worship. At the meeting we will elect a new class of deacons & elders and approve the terms of call for the pastor in 2022. The snow date will be November 21^st.

FPC GAME NIGHT

The next Game Night will be Sunday, November 14^th at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall. Bring your own board game to share. Friends and kids are welcome – we’ll have games for everyone!

COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING SERVICE

Everyone is invited gather on Sunday evening, November 21^st, at Our Savior Lutheran Church for a Thanksgiving worship service. We will begin at 5:00pm, This year there will be no meal.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

The church office will be open on Monday, November 22^nd from 9-noon and will be closed Thursday & Friday, November 25^th & 26^th for the Thanksgiving holiday.

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, November 22^nd at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall.

To Give Thanks…

is to remember how it feels to experience belonging,

to look long around a laden table

and be glad to claima place among that gathered company.

To give thanks is to remember what has been-time’s bewildering recital-

and, despite so much, to look ahead with undiminished hope.

To give thanks is to recall with heartache all those absent from the assembled,

the dear departed, those, too, who never made it in the first place,

due to loss, or want, foul fortune, being born at the wrong place, at the wrong time.

To give thanks takes all that we have been, all that we are and yet might be,

and shapes it new around a fuller, richer, broader future feast.

J. Barrie Shepherd

HANGING OF THE GREENS

We will be “Hanging the Greens” on Sunday, November 28^th after worship. Stay tuned for details.

Deacons Coat Giveaway a Success!

….. ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these

 brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’   Matthew 25:40b NIV

Saturday, October 9^th the FPC Deacons hosted a coat giveaway. In total 141 coats and 184 accessories, such as hats, mittens, gloves, snow pants etc., were given away Saturday and throughout the following week. The Deacons were pleased to have such a good response and hope to repeat the event next year.

The Deacons really appreciated the various groups who held their own coat drives prior to the event so that we would have a good selection of coats. Karen Parker donated a large number of knitted items, hats and headbands, for the event and these were very popular.

The coat giveaway was a big project and the Deacons were fortunate to have the assistance of several groups. The FCCLA organization from Wayne Community Schools (WCS), Ms. Alina Surber and students, helped the Deacons move coats and racks from the basement into Fellowship Hall to set up for the event. The decision to move to Fellowship Hall allowed more space for coats, volunteers, helpers and clients. Christa Dutcher, Spanish instructor at WCS and her students helped with the translation of some of our posters and forms into Spanish. Nancy Rodriguez was our Spanish interpreter on the 9^th and she really helped with many of the families who came for coats. We also appreciated Ace Hardware who loaned racks for the event and the WCS Maintenance crew who moved the racks to and from FPC. Thanks to Nina Hammer who assisted with posters and on the day of the event. Jenny Hammer also assisted in getting ready for the event, following the event, and doing the final report. The Deacons appreciate the assistance of KTCH in public service announcements about the event as well as the Wayne School District sending information out the families. Kent and Jodi Pulfer and Pastor Teresa returned the coats and racks to the basement to get ready for packing backpacks, another great FPC project. Thanks to every individual and group who assisted in the Coat Closet giveaway in any manner and helped make it so successful.

            Due to the success of the giveaway the Coat Closet stock is low. If you would like to donate we always need children’s coats and we are in need of men’s work coats as well as hats, mittens and gloves for all people. The Coat Closet is one way we live into our mission as a Matthew 25 church and address the needs of people in our area.

OUTREACH TEAM UPDATE

After exciting input from volunteer “brain-stormers” last spring, the Outreach Team (Mark H. and Jane) and the Worship Team (Jean G. and Jane) are beginning to see some results of fantastic suggestions. Some of the ideas have necessarily been put on hold because of expense, and we are still looking for more input from the congregation.

Look for an email in the next two months that will allow you to respond with ways you would like to participate in church activities and worship. Some of this participation will include greeting worshipers, ushering, lecturing, and volunteering in any special way. We are also hoping for more ideas that will allow our church individuals to feel move involved in church without burdening Pastor Bartlett or Jenny with new responsibilities.

In August we held a successful outdoor game night, and we will be bringing the event indoors November 14 and again on December 12 beginning at about 6:30 in Fellowship Hall. If you need to finish watching a game on TV, late arrivals are welcome. We encourage families, kids, college students, young adults, recently young adults and seniors to attend and bring friends. If you have a particular game or puzzle you are willing to share for the evening, please feel free to do so.

Brochures, designed by Suzanne (Ras) Sjuts, are completed and are colorful and inviting. They fill the requirements of “able to read the entire brochure standing on one foot” and “providing understanding about where to find more information.”

Jean organized visitor gifts. Created by the deacons, the gift will include edible treats, a magnetic refrigerator clip, and brochure. Each gift will be packaged in a gift mug featuring the logo of our church. To offset the cost of the first order of mugs, we are inviting people in our church to purchase mugs for $5.00 each.

Ronda and Gail have been canvasing other churches and researching information about the role of greeters for Worship Services. Look for a short “training session” in the upcoming weeks about how we can improve the ways we respond to visitors. 

Please continue to contribute to a vital and meaningful church. – Jane O’Leary

SALVATION ARMY BELL RINGERS NEEDED

The Wayne Extension Unit of the Salvation Army will be conducting its Annual Bell Ringing Campaign in November 26^th through December18^th. The bell ringing campaign is the primary fundraiser for the Salvation Army in Wayne. Bell ringers are needed for 2-hour time slots on Friday or Saturday. Churches, service organizations, youth groups and others have been invited to participate in the bell ringing project.  

Ninety percent (90%) of the total funds collected in the Wayne bell ringing campaign remain in the community and assist with housing, utilities, medical, transportation and other needs of families and individuals in Wayne. This year the Wayne SA Unit sponsored a back to school drive for school supplies for elementary children. The project was very successful and helped more than 100 children with backpacks and school supplies.

This year First Presbyterian is scheduled on Saturday, December 11^th from 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. at Quality Foods Center. The only requirements are to be friendly and welcoming, dress warmly and smile easily and say thank-you, oh yeah, a little wrist action with a bell. We can fill shorter time slots if we get more volunteers. There will be a sign-up sheet in Fellowship Hall. 

Participation in the Salvation Army bell ringing campaign is one way we can live into our commitment of being a Matthew 25 congregation; as we are reminded in Matthew 25:40; ‘… whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Please sign-up to ring the Salvation Army Bell this season or contact the office to sign up.

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS NEEDED 

Pastor Teresa is looking for couples, families or individuals who would like to assist with lighting the Advent candles during worship in December. All readings will be provided in advance. Your participation in this seasonal tradition will be appreciated. A sign-up sheet will be in Fellowship Hall or you can contact Pastor Teresa.

The dates are:

November 28^th, December 5^th, December 9^th, December 12^th, December 19th

Thank-you for the cards, sweets and other treats you shared with me in recognition of Pastor Appreciation Sunday. Your kind words are especially appreciated after an unusually challenging 18 months. I look forward to continuing our work together. 

Thank-you,

Pastor Teresa 

A TIP OF THE HAT

Thank-you to the many individuals who took care of the mowing of the church lawn over the course of the last several months. 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.

LOOKING AHEAD TO ADVENT & CHRISTMAS

• The Hanging of the Greens will take place after worship on November 28^th. Stick around to help decorate our building in anticipation of Christmas!
• Christmas Surprise?
• Our congregation has been asked by the local Salvation Army Board to provide bell ringers on Saturday, December 11^th at Quality Foods from 10:00am-12pm. Please sign up at the Opportunity Table.
• Our Christmas Eve Service will be held at 5:30pm.

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

               6       Brandon B.

               10     Kevin P.

               12      Ken L.

               12      Mark Mc.

               13       Katherine B.

               14      Audrey H.

November 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
9:00am Bell practice10:00am Worship11:00am Fellowship	1	2	3	4 Word in Faith column runs in Wayne Herald	5	6
7 Set your clocks back one hour 10:00am Worship & Communion 4:00pm Cub Scouts	8 9:30am Wayne Community Response Meeting	9	10 10:00am Pastor at WACAM	11   10:00am Homestead Presbytery	12	13
14 11:00am Congregational Meeting 6:30pm Game Night	15	16	17	18	19	20
21 4:00pm Cub Scouts 5:00pm Community Thanksgiving Service at OSLC	22 9am-12pm Office open 7:00pm Session Meeting	23	24 3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel	25 Thanksgiving Day   Office Closed	26 Office closed	27
28   11:00am Hanging of the Greens	29 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	30 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	1 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	2  5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	3 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	4 10am-1pm Salvation Army Bell Ringing at QFC

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to www.fpcwayne.com; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office/Wayne Food Pantry/Coat Closet

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 12 noon

Pastor Teresa Bartlett

402-375-2669 (office)

319-795-2911 (cell)

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

FPC Service Recordings can be found at:

*Facebook @ First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

*Our website @ https://fpcwayne.com

*YouTube @ FPC of Wayne Nebraska

FPC Online Worship Bulletins can be found at:

https://fpcwayne.com/fpc-wayne-worship-bulletins/

The Newsletter of First Presbyterian Church

216 West Third Street, Wayne, Nebraska 68787

(402) 375-2669 + http://www.fpcwayne.com

“Our chief end is to glorify and enjoy God forever.”

From the Pastor…

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.” Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT)

WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2021

Sunday, October 3^rd is World Communion Sunday, a day when we share the Bread of life and the Cup of salvation alongside Christians in all different traditions, around the world. The communion elder will be John Fuelberth.

FPC DEACONS TO HOST COAT GIVE-AWAY: SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9TH 

Saturday, October 9^th, the First Presbyterian Church Deacons will be hosting a coat give away from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Coats for all ages will be available, the selection will be limited to stock on hand. In addition to coats there is a limited selection of hats, scarves and gloves. Each “shopper” can select one coat and accessories, parents may select for their children. The event is open to all area individuals and families. COVID guidelines will be observed. Due to space limitations shoppers will be limited to 2 persons per family at a time. The Deacon’s will be setting up on Wednesday evening October 6^th with volunteers. On October 13^th we will return the coats to the basement. If you are able to assist on either the 6^th or 13^th please contact Karen Johnson, Connie Bargstad or Pastor Teresa.  

STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN: OCTOBER 17-31, 2021

FPC Stewardship’s Campaign will begin October 17^th and run through October 31^st.  During this time you will receive a mailing from the financial secretary and the Session.  It is hoped that you will reflect on the information you receive and consider prayerfully your continued support of First Presbyterian Church. In an unusual year with many twists and turns we continue to be the church, meeting together in new ways and serving the community through the Coat Closet and the Food Pantry & Backpack programs. Your support financially and your presence & encouragement to our Deacons and Elders and staff are particularly important at this time.

PASTOR BARTLETT OUT AT PASTORAL LEADERSHIP REVITALIZATION PROGRAM

The Pastoral Leadership Revitalization (PLR) program, made possible by a three-year grant, directed by the Omaha Seminary Foundation continues. The program seeks to help pastors find a balance between personal and professional life as well as offering support in ministry. The PLR program focuses on first-call pastors and those in small and rural settings. Pastors from the presbyteries of Central Nebraska, Missouri River Valley, Missouri Union and Homestead Presbytery have been invited to participate in the 3-year program. Pastor Bartlett was invited by the Homestead Interim Executive, Stephen Earl, to apply for Pastoral Leadership Revitalization Program and was accepted. The purposes of the program are:

• To increase pastoral resilience and adaptive leadership,

            especially for newly ordained and or isolated pastors.

• To stem the attrition rate of ordained and lay pastors.
• To create a network of pastoral leadership.

Each participant is assigned a coaching mentor which is a hybrid coach and mentor, who meets with participants in-person or electronically monthly. In addition to regular interaction with a coaching mentor, the program includes a variety of retreats. There is no expense to churches, pastors or presbyteries as all expenses are covered by the grant from the Lily Foundation. The next retreat for Pastor Teresa is October 17-20, 2021. Sessions and congregations are encouraged to support their pastors participating in the program.

FALL DECORATING

If you would like to provide pumpkins, gourds or other fall decorations (artificial or real) to use in decorating the sanctuary, please bring those items to church by October 7^th and leave them in Fellowship Hall or with Pastor Teresa.  

PASTORAL COMMUNITY OUTREACH SERVICES

Pastor Teresa will lead pastoral outreach services at the following locations throughout October:

• KINSHIP POINTE CHAPEL: Pastor Teresa will lead a chapel service at Kinship Pointe at 3:30pm on Wednesday, October 6^th.
• RADIO DEVOTIONS: Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of October 18^th – 22^nd at 5:40am.

SESSION

The next session meeting will be held on Monday, October 25^th at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

• We need lawn mowing volunteers for October. You can sign-up on-line, in Fellowship Hall on the Opportunity Table or contact the office. Thank you to all who have been mowing the church lawn. 
• Coffee Fellowship has resumed, and we need fellowship hosts to prepare refreshments. Please sign up in Fellowship Hall or contact Jenny. Please consider sharing the gift of hospitality.
• Greeters & lectors are needed. Please volunteer or say “yes” when asked.

WAYNE FOOD PANTRY SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM UPDATE

The Wayne County Backpack Program provides a weekend supply of nutritious food for children when school lunch and breakfast is unavailable on a weekend. The program began in April of 2013 to assist families whose children may experience food scarcity on the weekends or may have children home alone. We accept donations of any single serve items; however, they must be something that small child can prepare and eat on their own. From late August through late September, the distribution of backpacks has grown to 125 bags distributed weekly. Sites include the Early Learning Center, the Elementary, Junior High, and High Schools, St. Mary’s and Tower School. Letters were sent to families of the Wayne area schools inviting students to participate. The program is completely sponsored by donations to the Wayne County Food Pantry that are specific to the Backpack Program,

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME

Daylight Saving Time will end on Sunday, November 7, at 2:00am. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour, or you’ll have plenty of time for solitary meditation in the sanctuary!

October 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Sunday Morning Worship 10:00am Fellowship 11:00am					1	2
3 World Communion Day   4:00pm Cub Scouts	4	5	6 3:30pm Pastor leads Kinship Pointe   Coat Fair Set-up	7 3:30pm Salvation Army Mtg.	8	9 Coat Fair 10:00am – 2:00pm
10	11 9:30am Wayne Family Coalition Meeting	12	13 10:30 Pastor at WACAM meeting	14	15	16 10:30am Coat Closet Coat Fair at High School
17 4:00pm Cub Scouts	18 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   Pastor at Leadership Retreat	19 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   Pastor at Leadership Retreat	20 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   Pastor at Leadership Retreat	21 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	22 5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	23
24 7:00pm WSC Students pack food backpacks	25 7:00pm Session	26	27 Pastor at Presbytery Retreat	28 Pastor at Presbytery Retreat	29	30
31 1:30 Pastor leads Countryview Chapel

OCTOBER BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

             5         Dale J.

             8         John F.

            10        Brook B.

            18        Ronald C.

            20        Braydn McC.

            21        Rob S.

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to www.fpcwayne.com; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office/Wayne Food Pantry/Coat Closet

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

Tuesday – Friday, 9am – 12 noon

Pastor Teresa Bartlett

402-375-2669 (office)

319-795-2911 (cell)

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

Presbytidings–August/September 2021

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…..

Thank-you for my study leave, the time was especially appreciated after the challenges we’ve all encountered the last year and a half. Synod School has been a favorite annual event of mine for more than 20 years. During my years in ministry the event has served as an excellent study leave always engaging, challenging, and refreshing.

 After being cancelled last year, like so many things, this year’s event was different in many ways. Still, it had the same rhythm; worship, classes, worship, and lots of fellowship over meals. I missed many friends who chose not to attend for various reasons. My friend and roommate was a first time Synod School participant, she had a great time and plans to return next year. Synod School is a great event for families and people of all ages. As the saying goes “try it, you’ll like it!”

This year’s theme was “Called Out.”  Each of our great preachers challenged us daily to think about various ways we Christians are being “Called out.” The morning convocation speaker, Rev. Jill Duffield from Greensboro, North Carolina, lifted up a variety of ways that we’re called out such as to be a blessing to others, to be prophets, neighbors and ambassadors for Christ. 

The evening speaker, Rev. Samuel Son, used Paul’s letter to the Ephesians as the core of his messages to the group of 400 plus Presbyterians and a sprinkling of Methodist friends. Rev. Son, the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s manager for Diversity and Reconciliation, shared many personal experiences as he reminded the group that we are “called out” to be the beloved, the church, to speak the truth in love. Rev. Son’s message on Friday was that Christians are called out as the body of Christ to the world. A part of the Confession of 1967 was included in worship the words remind us that as Christians “… prayer and Bible study are part of the church’s worship, and theological reflection. Their witness is the church’s evangelism. Their daily action in the world is the church in mission to the world…”  We are the body of Christ reflecting Christ to the world in our words and actions, in everyday activities as well as times of worship.

In addition to morning and evening worship I had an opportunity to study the new PW Bible study for 2021-2022, “What My Grandmothers Taught Me,” which follows the lineage of Jesus and teaches about his grandmothers. 

My two other classes related to each other remarkably well with their similar focus on the church in post Christianity soil. We are no longer living in the “golden age of Christianity” this is not the first time nor the last when the church finds itself in a time when culture and technology are changing the world rapidly. Changes and innovations have certainly impacted the church as well as other institutions and civic organizations. In addition to cultural shifts, the place of organized religion in society is also shifting. It’s not difficult to see some markers of these changes, such as changes in worship attendance and church participation, however these changes began long before COVID.  Like many other institutions the church also faces distrust and anxiety. There are no easy answers for what lies ahead for the church; however, we might look to the first century church for a model of growth and doing new things. 

Matthew 28:18-20 recorded Jesus’ Great Commission; Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

This commission sent the disciples in a new direction; it was no longer the status quo.  There were challenges in how to do things, who could be included, disagreements about leadership, but the church adapted, changed and by the power of the Holy Spirit survived. The Acts church is a model of how we are to obey Christ, care for each other and the community.

These days are no less challenging than the 1^st century, it’s easy to give into anxiety and fear.  We are to make disciples, not just church members, we are to be in partnership with the Spirit and others in mission in and to our communities. The following poem is a reminder that we each play a part in the life and ministry of the church.

This Is My Church

It is composed of people just like me.

It will be friendly if I am.

It will do a great work if I work.

It will make generous gifts to many

causes if I am generous.

It will bring others into fellowship

if I bring them.

Its seats will be filled if I fill them.

It will be a church of loyalty and love,

of faith, service and laughter if I,

who make it what it is, am filled with these.

Therefore, with God’s help,

I dedicate myself to the task of being all these things

I want my church to be.

The life and ministry of our church isn’t the responsibility of just the pastor, the Session, or the Deacons. It’s the responsibility of each of us, it will take  each of us getting involved, building relationships, being generous, sharing time and talents, building up the church and one another with words of encouragement and love. We are indeed “called out” to be a blessing to others, to be prophets, neighbors and ambassadors for Christ.  What are you being “called out to do?” Individually and as the body of Christ let us answer the call.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Teresa

FPC ONLINE WORSHIP BULLETINS

Worship Bulletins may be found online athttps://fpcwayne.com/fpc-wayne-worship-bulletins/

COMMUNION

• Sunday, August 15, 2021. Communion elder: John Fuelberth.
• Sunday, September 12,^, 2021. Communion elder to be announced.

DEACONS MEETING

The Deacons will meet Tuesday, August 17, 2021 at 4:30pm in Fellowship Hall.

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY ZOOM – AUGUST 21, 2021

Presbytery meeting August 21 via Zoom from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Pastor Teresa and Pastor Brian Johnson of Norfolk are leading the worship. The Presbytery will have a candidate for ministry preaching and to be examined by Presbytery to proceed to ordination. There is still time to register. The Homestead Presbytery website has a registration link.

CALVIN CREST FAMILY FUN DAY–August 21, 2021

We invite YOU to enjoy one of the last weekends of summer the best way possible, spending quality time with the people you love.  Calvin Crest’s Fun Day 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.  For more information, click HERE  or go to Calvin Crest Family Fun Day-August 21, 2021 – Calvin Crest!

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS

• Stay tuned for updates on meeting times.

“What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus”

2021-2022 Presbyterian Women Bible Study

 Have you ever thought about Jesus’ grandmothers? Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary— the gospel of Matthew names these women for a reason. How might Jesus have heard the stories of his grandmothers? What might the young Jesus have felt as he heard about his family? What might the stories of these women have added to his sense of identity, as part of a particular family in a particular time and place?  What can these Grandmothers-of-the-Faith teach us? Their stories will lead us into the gospel, the good news about Jesus Christ.

The Bible study author, Merryl Blair, teaches at Stirling Theological School in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and is active in the worldwide ministry of women of faith.

POTENTIAL BIBLE STUDY

As plans are being made about the upcoming church year 2021-2022 Pastor Teresa would like to know if there is an interest in the congregation for a monthly Bible Study? If so what day/evening of the week and what time would work into your schedule? There are a variety of options including the Presbyterian Women’s 2021-2022 “What My Grandmothers Taught Me” referenced above.  If you have interest in Bible study please let Pastor Teresa know and indicate what day and time would fit your schedule.

COMMUNITY CHAPEL SERVICES

Pastor Teresa will lead chapel services at the following locations:

• WORD IN FAITH: Pastor’s article will appear in the August 19, 2021 Wayne Herald.
• RADIO DEVOTIONS: Pastor Teresa will be giving devotions on 104.9 Big Red Country KTCH the week of August 16^th – 20^th at 5:40am.
• KINSHIP POINTE: Pastor will lead chapel on Wednesday, August 18^th at 3:30pm.

SESSION MEETINGS

• Monday, August 23, at 7:00 pm in Fellowship Hall.
• Monday, September 27 at 7:00pm in Fellowship Hall.

GOLF OUTING

The annual OSLC/FPC Golf Outing will take place Tuesday, August 24th beginning at 5:30pm. It will be a scramble 4 person team format. You may assemble a team or be assigned to one. The $12 cost includes 9 hole green fee, cart rental, prizes and a meal. Contact Darrell Miller @ darrellmiller1218@gmail.com.

FPC GAME NIGHT! – AUGUST 29, 2021

Attention families, young and old adults: First Presbyterian is going to be having a monthly “game night” on Sundays, starting this month. August and hopefully September (and maybe October) will be outdoor activities. You can choose individual or team activities in ring toss, ladder toss, croquet, and kubb (a new “in” game becoming popular among young adults). We’ll have sidewalk chalk too. Bring your relatives and friends! Winter activities will include board games and puzzles indoors. If you’d like to be a spectator, bring a lawn chair. Mark your phones and planners for August 29!  We’ll start at 6:30 and end at dusk.

SAVE THE DATE – SUNDAY SUNDAE!

Join us as we begin the new church year on September 12, 2021.  We’ll gather for worship and following the service we will have ice cream and toppings during our traditional SUNDAE SUNDAY fellowship!

WAYNE ELECTRONICS RECYCLING

The City of Wayne’s Green Team will be hosting an electronics recycling event on Saturday, September 18, 2021 from 8-10am on Third Street between Lincoln & Pearl Streets. Details will be forthcoming.

FELLOWSHIP TIME RESUMES

Currently plans are to resume Fellowship Time after worship beginning Sunday, September 19, 2021. Sign-up to host at the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall.

GUEST WI-FI NETWORK

Congregation members and groups/organizations who would like to meet in our church now have access to Wi-Fi within our church. The access information has been posted on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

FPC CURRENT COVID PRACTICES

FPC is currently operating with mask-optional protocol. This does not mean there is no need for caution rather that each individual or family can make their own determination regarding the wearing of masks based on their health and comfort level. Hand sanitizer and masks continue to be available. The access to Zoom will continue for those who desire to worship in that manner. We will not be resuming coffee fellowship at this time; you are encouraged to visit outside following worship. The Session and Pastor Teresa thank everyone for their co-operation.

OFFERING AND GIFTS

Thank-you for your continued financial support of the church during this time. Your gifts support the life and ministry of First Presbyterian Church. If you would like to simplify your life you might check at your bank for a bill pay service. This service allows you to set up reoccurring payments to businesses or the church and have the designated funds withdrawn from your account and mailed per your direction. If you find this idea worth consideration check-out your bank’s website, often you are able to set this up from your home computer.  You can always call your bank for assistance. You can mail your offerings to Anita Fuelberth, our financial secretary or to the church (216 W. Third St., Wayne). 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

• Homestead Presbytery needs volunteers to serve on committees of the Presbytery.   Currently there are openings on Disaster Response, Commission on Ministry, Committee on Preparation for Ministry and the Nominating Committee. Other positions will open on the Calvin Crest Board next year. If you are interested in serving the church as a member of one of these Committees please talk with Pastor Teresa. Your service to the wider church will be greatly appreciated.
• The Wayne Salvation Army Unit is looking for volunteers. The primary project is the November/December Bell Ringing which funds other efforts such as the back-to-school backpack project. You don’t have to be a pastor to serve on the board. The group doesn’t meet every month, but meets at least quarterly. The Salvation Army Unit would like to have a representative from every church serving on this board. If interested contact Pastor Teresa.

AUGUST 2021 FOOD PANTRY NEWS

The Wayne Food Pantry has serviced approximately 100 requests for assistance to date. The Backpack Program served approximately 5,000 food bags in the 2020/21 academic year. Please consider a donation to help our ministry to the Wayne Food Pantry and Backpack Program.

SIGN-UP FOR LAWN MOWING DIGITALLY

We are in need of volunteers to mow the church lawn for the month of August. You may sign up using the Google docs link below, calling or emailing Jenny in the church office or stop by the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall. The current list is below:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11dKAPPOOLWRDoApr87Gpqsd0PgWhkH4Ml7VB-amf1I0/edit

FPC LAWN MOWING SIGN-UP

Week of:	Name:
Week of August 2, 2021	Beau Bowers
Week of August 9, 2021	Beau Bowers
Week of August 16, 2021	Mark Hammer
Week of August 23, 2021
Week of August 30, 2021
Week of September 6, 2021
Week of September 13, 2021
Week of September 20, 2021
Week of September 27, 2021

CALVIN CREST CAMPER REPORT

Hello, my name is Nina H. I am in 10^th grade. This last summer would have been my 9th consecutive year going to Calvin Crest if the pandemic hadn’t happened. Calvin Crest is an amazing place to spend time, grow spiritually, and connect with others. Calvin Crest helps people make so many bonds with friends, most of my best and closest friends I met through Calvin Crest. Every single year I have gone, and every week of my summer I have spent down at Calvin Crest I have felt myself grow as a person both spiritually and as a better person. Every single week of my life I have gone down to Calvin Crest. I have met some of the most amazing people, whether they’re campers, CSI’s, Counselors, or even the Directors. One of my favorite and best things about Calvin Crest is that the people there aren’t mean, they don’t judge you, they are genuinely kind, and they are amazing children of God. 

This year our main topic of discussion was community. The Calvin Crest community and the even larger Presbyterian community. One thing the pandemic took away from me was camp, but that only made me appreciate the fact that I am able to go even more. It showed how special Calvin Crest is to me, and the enormous role it plays in my life and upbringing. This year I felt God in our presence when I was at camp; I could see him in everyone there. I could feel him with us as we did services for the camp and as we read the scriptures. We would start the day with straggling into breakfast at our pace and then going to work after breakfast until noon. After lunch we would swim, have F.O.B (nap time), have a snack, and then we would all have B.L.A.S.T. (Bible Learning and Study Time), as a group. We would have free time before dinner, then evening activity before campfire. We did many projects throughout the week including: fixing one of the Proett decks, replacing all the old nails with better longer nails on the Upper Area deck, digging and finishing a drain for the new pool shelter, working on the ceiling of the pool shelter, and digging down to the water main for the craft cabin. During these projects I got to use a pickaxe for the first time which was super fun. We did all of those projects between Monday and Friday to help the camp.  

Thank you so much for helping me go to camp again this year and get to help fix the camp that I love and make it a better place for future generations. 

THANKFUL AND GRATEFUL – MARIAN S.

We have received a letter of appreciation from Marian S. You may read it on the bulletin board in Fellowship Hall.

August 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 10:00am Worship with Rev. Kathleen Splitt 10:00	2	3	4	5	6	7
8 10:00am Worship with PW Leadership Team	9	10	11 10:30 WACAM Meeting	12	13	14
15   10:00am Worship with Communion (Youth in the Church and in the World Sunday)	16   5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   9:30am Wayne Family Coalition Meeting	17   5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   4:30pm Deacons Meeting	18   5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   3:30pm Kinship Pointe Chapel	19   5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   Word in Faith Column runs	20   5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	21   10:00am Homestead Presbytery
22   10:00am Worship	23   7:00pm Session	24	25	26	27	28
29   6:30pm FPC Game Night	30	31

SEPTEMBER 2021– First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: Worship 10:00 in-person or via Zoom			1	2	3	4
5 6:30pm FPC Game Night	6 Labor Day	7	8 10:30 WACAM Meeting	9	10	11
12 Communion Sundae Sunday   6:30pm FPC Game Night	13	14	15	16	17	18
19   1:30pm Wayne Countryview Chapel   6:30pm FPC Game Night	20	21	22	23	24	25
26 6:30pm FPC Game Night	27 7:00 Session Meeting	28 11:00am Northern Covenant Pastors meet	29	30

AUGUST BIRTHDAYS

            2          Gordon G.

            3          Ken M.

            8          Nina S.

            12        Alissa B.

            20        Russ U.

            27        Milton O.

            30        Layne H.

SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS

                                    6          Anita F.

                                    8          Sharyn P.

                                    24        Misty B.

            29        Melissa U.

            30        Madison B.

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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

FPC ONLINE WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

FaceBook:https://www.facebook.com/fpcwayne/

YouTube: First Presbyterian Church of Wayne, Nebraska

Our web page: https://fpcwayne.com/media/

Worship Bulletins may be found at:https://fpcwayne.com/fpc-wayne-worship-bulletins/

Pastor Teresa Bartlett

402-375-2669 (office)

319-795-2911 (cell)

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to http://www.fpcwayne.com; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!

Presbytidings – Summer 2021

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.”

FPC UPDATE TO WORSHIP PRACTICES

At their May 24^th meeting the Session reviewed FPC’s COVID practices and determined FPC could move into Phase Three of our three phase plan formulated last spring. Considering recent announcements by the CDC and the Governor, FPC will move into a mask optional practice. This does not mean there is no need for caution rather that each individual or family can make their own determination regarding the wearing of masks based on their health and comfort level. We will continue to maintain social distancing during worship in the sanctuary and recording attendees. Hand sanitizer and masks will be available. Access to Zoom will continue for those who desire to worship in that manner. We will not be resuming coffee fellowship at this time; you are encouraged to visit outside following worship. The Session and Pastor Teresa thank everyone for their past co-operation and hope the transition to this new practice will move smoothly. 

SUMMER COMMUNION DATES

Please note the following changes in the communion schedule

due to Pastor’s vacation and study leave.

• Sunday, June 13^th. Jean Griess and John Fuelberth will serve as Communion Elders.
• Sunday, July 11^th. Communion Elder needed.
• Sunday, August 15^th. Communion Elder, John Fuelberth.

FPC WORSHIP SERVICE VIDEOS CAN BE FOUND AT:

 Facebook: @ First Presbyterian Church – Wayne, Nebraska

Website: fpcwayne.com

YouTube: @ fpc of wayne Nebraska

Check it out!

SESSION

The next session meeting will be held on Monday, June 28^TH, at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS

Please stay tuned for announcements regarding PW and Sewing Souls meetings this summer.

What My Grandmothers Taught Me:

Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus

The 2021–2022 PW/Horizons Bible study

 Why are Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba and Mary included in the genealogy in Matthew 1? What did their lives teach Jesus and, most importantly, how do their stories lead us into the Gospel, the Good News about Jesus Christ? The 2021-22 PW/Horizons Bible Study, written by Merryl Blair, with suggestions for Leaders by Magdalena I. Garcia and art by Cody F. Miller—invites us into the stories about the women in Jesus’ family tree. In addition to availability in hard copy, the companion DVD (available in late July!) and the Spanish Bible study will also be available for purchase as downloads! Order the study (item HZN21100) and supplementary materials by going to www.presbyterian women.org/shop or calling 800/533-4371. Plans for Bible study introductory webinars are starting to take shape. Email patricia.longfellow@pcusa.org to be sure you are on PW’s email list!

 

Presbyterian Women’s Church-wide Gathering

Presbyterian Women’s in-person 2021 Church-wide Gathering, which was to be held in St. Louis, has been cancelled. However, Presbyterian Women are committed and connected, so will you join us online for a Gathering event and to watch PW’s Business Meeting?

Following the conclusion of the Business Meeting on August 5,  Presbyterian Women will hold an Online Church-wide Gathering Event—two hours of worship and plenary that you can stream from your home, office or church! Inspiring speakers and preachers—including Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett, president and executive director of the Presbyterian Mission Agency of the PC(USA)—will lead a time of rejoicing and renewal. Mark your calendars! See www.presbyterianwomen.org for updates.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 2021 GRADUATES

2021 FPC High School Graduate:

Maria Ras           Bancroft-Rosalie High School     Morningside University, Elem. Ed.

Maria received the FPC Eleanor Edwards Scholarship from the congregation

and a handmade fleece blanket from the FPC Presbyterian Women.)

2021 FPC College/University Graduates

Layne Heese                  SECC             Business Administration   2021

Aaron Ras                      WSC               Psychology                           May, 2021

(minors: sociology/exercise science)

2021 FPC Students Recognized for Scholastic Achievement

FPC had three students who were recognized for their scholastic achievement based on being in the top 10 students in their class based on GPA.

• Taytum Sweetland – Junior
• Braydn McCorkindale – Sophomore
• Nina Hammer – Freshman
• Also, friend of the congregation and Presbyterian Pealer – Christopher Woerdemann, Senior.

Henry McCalla – High School Graduate

Congratulations to Henry McCalla who has graduated from Atlantic High School in Iowa. Please contact the office for his address if you would like to send him a card.

Congratulations to each of our FPC students on your scholastic achievements.

Please keep all the young people in our congregation and community in your prayers.

2021 FOOD PANTRY & BACKPACK NEWS

The food pantry has served 75 requests so far this year. The Backpack Program has served approximately 5,400 food bags in the 2020/21 academic year. We had an increase in the numbers of participants of nearly 50 extra bags per week. We are now serving St. Mary’s and Tower Schools as well. The program will continue this summer. We would be happy to receive 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. Please consider a donation to the Wayne Food Pantry and Backpack Program ministry.

CHRISTIAN CROSS FESTIVAL

The Christian Cross Festival may be a one day event on June 12^th, 2021 from 2:00-11:00pm. This year they are hosting The Afters, Rhett Walker Band, Hannah Kerr, KJ-52, Tom Golly, Remedy Drive and speaker Ron Brown. Check it out on Facebook at Christian Cross Festival or online at www.christiancrossfestival.org 

SIGN-UP FOR LAWN MOWING DIGITALLY

https://docs.google.com/document/d/11dKAPPOOLWRDoApr87Gpqsd0PgWhkH4Ml7VB-amf1I0/edit

We need one or two people to mow each week. If you can share in this effort, please sign up via the google link, call the church office or sign up at the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall. The current list is below:

FPC Lawn Mowing

Week of June 7, 2021	Shari Dunklau
Week of June 14, 2021
Week of June 21, 2021
Week of June 28, 2021
Week of July 5, 2021
Week of July 12, 2021
Week of July 19, 2021
Week of July 26, 2021
Week of August 2, 2021

So God Made a Father[*]

By May Patterson

This poem was inspired by Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer.”

So God Made a Father

At the dawn of time, God looked down on all He had made and said, “Now, I need a caretaker.”

So, God made a father.

God said, “I need someone to teach children to fish, and to ride a bike without training wheels, and to play catch in the backyard. It must be someone who’s tough enough to run a chainsaw and wield a machete and yet, gentle enough to join his little girl and her dolls for tea.”

So, God made a father.

“I need someone to bring the car around when it’s raining, so everyone else can stay dry. Someone who will keep jumper cables in his truck, just in case he needs to help a stranger. I need someone to notice practical things, like how the tread on the tires is wearing and if the weather stripping around the front door needs replacing, for no one else will.”

“I’ll create someone who’s strong enough to open a tightly sealed jelly jar and tall enough to place the angel on top of the Christmas tree. Someone who will be gracious enough to let his son fish the best fishing hole or to let his daughter win at least one hand of gin rummy.”

“Yes, he will struggle to find his glasses and keys,”God thought. “But I’ll help him findtimefor the important things, like tumbling with the kids in the den floor, or saying ‘I’m proud of you, son,’ or giving Mama a hug.”

So, God made a father.

God said, “I need someone brave enough to carve the Thanksgiving turkey, for no one else seems to want the job. Someone who’s not afraid to go into Grandma’s dark cellar, or to check on what goes bump in the night, or to remove the dead mouse from the mousetrap.” 

“I need someone wise enough to know when to let his child fail. Someone who will pick her up, dry her tears and say, ‘Honey, I know you can do it! Give it another try.’” 

“I need someone who listens more than he talks. Who will stand by his family through laughter and tears, tornadoes and snowstorms, good times and bad. Someone who will love his kids and love their mother even more.”

So, God made a father.

God said, “I need someone to provide for the family. Someone who will get up early and stay up late and never complain. I need someone who’s willing to make unpopular decisions and stand by them. Someone to provide authority and discipline, as well as love.”

“I need someone with broad shoulders, broad enough to carry a little child around town and broad enough to pull more than his fair share.Yes, I need someone who will work the second-shift, or take second-best, or play second fiddle, so that his family can have it better than he did.” 

“I need someone who is willing . . . willing to man up and provide the love, support and strength his family will so desperately need.”

So, God made a father.

“Sometimes, he will not feel worthy of the love his family gives him. There will be times when he fails to live up to my ideal standard. But when his family needs him, he will show up, or give up, or do whatever needs to be done.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I need,” thought God as He shook His head. “A father to love my children, and if necessary, to lay down his life for them. Someone . . . well, someone like Me.”

So, God made a father.

June 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: 10:00 Worship		1 Pastor out	2 Pastor out	3 Pastor out “Word in Faith”	4 Pastor out	5 Pastor out
6 Pastor out – Jane O’Leary, guest speaker	7 Pastor out	8	9 10:30am WACAM	10	11 10:30am Organ Tuning	12
13 Communion	14	15 Secretary out	16 Secretary out	17 Secretary out	18 Secretary out	19 Secretary out
20 * Father’s Day	21	22	23	24	25	26
27 1:30pm Wayne CountryView Chapel	28 7:00pm Session Meeting	29	30 3:30pm Brookdale Chapel

June Birthdays

             2         Jean G., Jill S.

             6         Connie B.

             8         Brian B., Carol M.

            10        Karen G.

            18        Wes B.

            19        Dennis S.

            26        Pastor Teresa

July 2020 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: 10:00 Worship				1	2	3
4	5	6	7	8	9	10
11 Communion	12	13	14	15	16	17
18	19	20	21	22	23	24
25	26 Pastor out	27 Pastor out	28 Pastor out	29 Pastor out	30 Pastor out	31 Pastor out

July Birthdays

                    10      Shea S.

                    21      Josephine P.

          24      Mark H., Zach U.

          29      Marta P.

FPC WORSHIP SERVICE VIDEOS CAN BE FOUND AT:

 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

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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/

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)

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to www.fpcwayne.com; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!

---

[*] So God Made a Father: A Moving Father’s Day Poem – Father’s Day (crosswalk.com)  Accessed 5/27/2021.

Presbytidings – May 2021

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 last year has been like no other, from the early days of COVID 19 through the height of the pandemic to having a vaccine widely available, each of us have encountered lots of challenges and change. The pandemic has required of everyone adaptation, patience and generosity. The pandemic has brought to mind how we enact Jesus’ words “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (John 13:34). During the pandemic we’ve been asked anew to consider the needs of others as well as our own, whether wearing a mask, postponing or shrinking an event, new and unfamiliar ways of worship, or getting vaccinated, practices we hope will protect our neighbors as well as ourselves and our families.

 At every junction of change the FPC Session has been thoughtful and careful as they considered the best practices to keep our community of faith safe. The Session has looked to several sources for information regarding COVID practices including the local health department, medical and scientific communities, our denomination, our insurance provider, as well as common sense. The practices that FPC put into place; social distancing, masks, hand sanitizer, and no fellowship are intended to mitigate risk to members and guests. Good COVID practices also protect the church from litigation if someone were to contract COVID at a church sponsored activity. The practices are part of our due diligence. The Session is aware of what other industry, business, community and religious organizations are doing but must determine what makes sense in our FPC context. The leadership of the church determined what practices are appropriate for our faith community and will determine when the practices will be changed or modified.

The Session met recently to review our COVID practices. While there is generally reason for optimism with the vaccine, we must proceed with caution. Per the Northeast Nebraska Health Department website our district (Wayne, Thurston, Cummings and Dixon counties) as of Sunday, May 5th remains in the yellow (moderate risk zone). You can track the COVID statistics for our area at Northeast Nebraska Public Health Department: Home (nnphd.org), the information on the website is updated weekly. FPC will continue to maintain social distancing, wear masks during worship, and use hand sanitizer as long as we are in the yellow zone. The Session and I ask that you continue to participate in the practices that have been put in place to keep yourself and others safe during worship. The Session will continue to reassess the information from the NE Nebraska Health Department, the CDC and other sources for recommendations and best practices. 

It has been a long and challenging year with many frustrations. I know of some churches in the denomination who have not yet returned to in person worship.  I’m thankful our hybrid worship allows those who feel comfortable worshiping in person to participate as well those who for various reasons are unable to worship in person to join in praising God.

 I know the practices of social distancing, sanitizing, and mask wearing impact the spirit and flow of our worship; however, I’m pleased we have not had anyone sickened with COVID because of being in worship. While not everyone likes wearing masks for indoor worship it is considered a best practice. The Session and I ask for your continued patience and participation with these established practices it takes all of us working together to keep everyone safe and healthy. The Session and I are hopeful that by the first of June we might be in an improved situation in our Health District. While the number of people vaccinated grows it may be tempting let down our guard however, let us be diligent in continuing our COVID practices as a visible sign of our love and commitment for each other.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Teresa

Mother’s Day – May 9^th

Thank-you to every woman for the many roles you play whether as mother, spouse, employee, employer, mentor, grandmother, friend, role model, spiritual friend. Not all women are mothers, but all of us have a mother – if your mother has been an example of faith and grace in your life give thanks and let her know how much you appreciate her. If this Mother’s Day you are missing a special woman in your life- give thanks for all that woman was to you, whether she was a wife, teacher, grandmother, mother or friend. Each of us, women and men should do our best to reflect the love and grace of God to those around us.

Presbyterian Women’s Spring Gathering

May 15^{th –} 9:00 to Noon

All women are invited to the PW Spring Gathering to be held via Zoom May 15^th. Informal check in and chat will be from 8:30 to a.m. to 9:00 a.m. We will hear from Elona Street-Stewart, the General Assembly Co-Moderator, as well as from the PW Synod Moderator, Sue Medsker. The theme for the day is “Courage in Times of Uncertainty.” Pastor Teresa will be giving the meditation. There will be a preview of the new Bible Study, What My Grandmothers Taught Me: Learning from the Women in Matthew’s Genealogy of Jesus written by Merryl Blair. The new book list will be previewed and reading awards presented. Mission opportunities will be discussed with a focus on supporting women’s shelters in our communities. Join the meeting to hear about plans for a fall tour of the Presbytery. If you would like to participate join us at church between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 15^th.

Homestead Presbytery Meeting

May 20^th, 2021 

Via Zoom beginning at 10:00 a.m..

Congratulations to our FPC 2021 Graduate

Maria Ras

Make plans to be in church on Sunday, May 23^rd for a graduate recognition and presentation of the Eleanor Edwards scholarship. Our 2021 graduate is Maria Ras who will graduate from Bancroft-Rosalie High School and plans to attend Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, majoring in Elementary Education. Maria will also play softball for the Morningside Mustangs.

Congratulations also to Aaron Ras who graduated from Wayne State College with a major in psychology and with minors in sociology and exercise science.

May Session meeting

The Session will be meeting on May 24^th at 7:00 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Jean Griess has devotions for the

May meeting. The June communion elder is Jane O’Leary.

Roadside Clean-up a Success

Thank you to Joh Fuelberth for organizing the 2021 Roadside Clean-up event.  Thanks to each of the volunteers who helped: Mark & Nina Hammer; Jeryl and Rochelle Nelson; Dave, Candyce, Solomon & Gabriel Peitz; Kent & Jodi Pulfer and John Fuelberth.

Presbyterian Women

At the April PW meeting those present decided to donate $500 to the Providence Medical Center Foundation. The money will be used to purchase needed equipment for the new ambulance. We are grateful that we are able to support our community in this way.

Sign up for Lawn Mowing

We will need one or two people to mow each week. If you can share in this effort, please sign up via the email Google document, sign-up on the Opportunity Table in Fellowship Hall or call the church office.

Lawn Mowing Sign-up 2021

Week:                                                            Name:

Week of May 3, 2021	Mark Hammer
Week of May 10, 2021	The Sweetlands
Week of May 17, 2021	The Sweetlands
Week of May 24, 2021	Ethan Wibben
Week of May 31, 2021
Week of June 7, 2021
Week of June 14, 2021
Week of June 215, 2021
Week of June 28, 2021

May 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
						1
2 10:00am Worship with Communion	3	4	5 2:00pm Presbyterian Women	6	7	8
9 10:00am Worship	10	11 9:30 Community Response Meeting via Zoom	12 10:30 WACAM Meeting 3:30pm Brookdale Chapel	13 11:00am Salvation Army Meeting	14 11:00am Fire Extinguisher inspection	15 8:30am PW Spring Gathering Via Zoom
16 10:00am Worship	17	18	19	20 9:00am Homestead Presbytery via Zoom	22	22
23   10:00am Worship with Graduate Recognition	24 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living   7:00pm Session Meeting	25 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	26 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	27 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	28 *5:40am KTCH 104.9 Moment for Living	29
30 10:00am Worship	31 Memorial Day

MAY BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

3             Joann P., Dave P.

10           Jeryl N.

11            Karen J., Solomon P.

12           Joan L.

14           Bo A.

18           Jay and Jane O., Taytum S.

24          Gail Mc.

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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)

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to www.fpcwayne.org; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!

Presbytidings – March 2021

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 will meditate on all your work,
    and muse on your mighty deeds.
Your way, O God, is holy.
    What god is so great as our God?
You are the God who works wonders;
    you have displayed your might among the peoples.
With your strong arm you redeemed your people,
    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah

                                                                         Psalm 77:12-15 NRSV

          The following meditation, based on Psalm 77, is from the book “Living into Lent” by Donald K. McKim. It links well with our daily Lenten meditations which ask us to pray with the Scriptures.

“One part of our Lenten journey is to ponder who God is and what God has done. This had been part of the journey of faith for the people of God from the beginning. The psalmist recalls God’s mighty deeds for the people of Israel in Psalm 77. Through all the zigs and zags of Israel’s history – and the psalmist’s own history – there is the recognition that God has been there. God has been present, and God has acted. The psalmist declares: ”I will mediate on all your work, and muse on your mighty deeds” (Psalm 77:12).

            The time of Lent gives opportunities to explore deeper dimensions to our faith. We can give attention to what God has been doing. We meditate on the Word of God in Scripture, through which we encounter who God is and the ways God has acted in this world. We meditate on our faith, what we believe. We reflect on our lives and the ways faith affects our lives in many ways, every day.

            We realize, in faith, that God is with us and God sees us through the various difficulties of faith we encounter. Our proneness to idolatry, to temptation, and to all the dangers and snares we encounter are met by the continuing “mighty deeds” of God. This God meets us in Jesus Christ, sustains us, guides us, and by grace brings us to where God wants us to be. As we meditate on the nature of faith, we will also experience the comforts and joys of faith, even as we endure whatever comes our way.

           In Lent, we can meditate on all God’s work. We can see God’s “mighty deeds” in acts and events both great and small. We can have a sense of God’s guidance for our lives. Our faith is deepened by this meditation.  We will find what the Psalmist also found: “You are the God who works wonders” (Psalm 77:14).”

Grace and peace,

Pastor Teresa  

Mid-Week Lenten Services.

Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

FPC will have a weekly Wednesday evening Lenten service during March. April 1^st will be the Maundy Thursday service. All the services will be via Zoom since we are unable to have our traditional soup supper before worship. This year’s theme is “On the Road with Jesus.” The metaphor of journey is often used in reference to the Christian life. In a sense we are on the road from the beginning to the end of our lives. The book “On the Road Again” by James W. Moore is the basis for our Lenten services. Some of Jesus’ most powerful and poignant experiences happened on the road. Moore writes, ”in a real sense, we could say that Jesus spent his whole life on the road. He was born on a road trip, he died on a road trip. And one of his most dramatic post-resurrection appearances occurred on the road to Emmaus.” 

Jesus encountered many people on the road from the rich young ruler, Zacchaeus, Bartimaeus. Jesus was on a road trip when he came upon the ten men with leprosy and healed them. In our time together we will learn more about some of the people Jesus encountered on the road and how their lives were changed. Please plan to join our Wednesday evening Zoom gatherings for a brief worship service as we follow Jesus on the road.

March 3 – Zacchaeus

March 10^th – Little Children

March 17 – The Woman Bend Double

March 24 – Pontius Pilate

April 1 – Maundy Thursday – Cleopas and friends

       The link for worship will open at 6:30 p.m. so you can spend time in fellowship with each other before worship at 7:00 p.m. If you are unable to attend you can follow services on our FPC Facebook page.

Lenten Poem

by Ann Weems

Lent is a time to take time to let the power
of our faith story take hold of us,
a time to let the events get up
and walk around in us,
a time to intensify our living unto Christ,
a time to hover over the thoughts of our hearts,
a time to place our feet in the streets of
Jerusalem or to walk along the sea and
listen to his Word,
a time to touch his robe
and feel the healing surge through us,
a time to ponder and a time to wonder….
Lent is a time to allow
a fresh new taste of God!
Perhaps we’re afraid to have time to think,
for thoughts come unbidden.
Perhaps we’re afraid to face our future
knowing our past.
Give us courage, O God,
to hear your Word
and to read our living into it.
Give us the trust to know we’re forgiven
and give us the faith
to take up our lives and walk.

2021 Lenten Devotional: Praying with the Scriptures

Throughout the season of Lent, you are invited to pray with one passage from Scripture each day and prompted to reflect on what it discloses to you about movement toward God and movement away from God in your life. The 2021 Lenten devotions are written by Roger Gench, Presbyterian pastor and author, will guide you in this daily practice of praying with Scripture.

John Calvin spoke of the Bible as the “lens of faith,” likening it to a pair of eyeglasses that enables us to see the world with clearer vision as God’s creation. As theologian Serene Jones noted in “Engaging Biblical Authority,” this was Calvin’s way of saying that Scripture “brings clarity and focus to all aspects of our lives” and “lets us see what we otherwise would not.” In short, once we have these eyeglasses on, “there is nothing, absolutely nothing that escapes their vision-framing power.” One of the ways we can “put on” Scripture is by praying or meditating contemplatively on a biblical text — slowly and contemplatively reading it as a prayer to God. Indeed, this is an ancient and robust practice of prayer. When we pray with Scripture, we ponder deeply the words and images of the text. Using our imaginations, we can even enter into the world of the text in order to discern God’s wisdom. Praying with Scripture in this way can be an aid — a focusing lens — to help us discern the movement of God around us.

The devotions are emailed weekly to the congregation on our email list and mailed to other congregants.  If you are not getting the devotions in either of these forms please contact the church office.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, March 7, 2021. Jean Griess will serve as Communion Elder. Communion will also be served on Easter, April 4^th, 2021.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME!

Spring forward one hour the weekend of March 14th. You might be caught walking into church just as worship is finishing up!

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, March 22^rd, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING

For more than 70 years, One Great Hour of Sharing has provided us a way to share God’s love with our neighbors in need. In fact, OGHS is the single, largest way Presbyterians come together every year to work toward a better world.

The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People – all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope.

First Presbyterian will be collection the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering on Easter Sunday, April 4^th and April 11^th.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS

Watch the bulletin for announcements of upcoming meetings for Presbyterian Women & Sewing Souls.

FPC DIRECTORY UPDATE

Jenny is working on an update to the FPC Church Directory. Please submit any changes by March 31^st to fpcwayne@gmail.com or call the office at 402-375-2669. Thank you!

LOST KEYS?

A set of keys was recently turned in to the office. Attached is a key fob that says “Always my sister, always my friend.” Please contact us if these are your keys.

MAY DAY BASKET DONATIONS FOR WAYNE COUNTRYVIEW

The Wayne Community School ‘Life and Career Readiness’ class is seeking donations for May Day baskets to be distributed at Wayne CountryView Care. We will have a box in Fellowship Hall until April 18^th for collection of items as listed below. Thank you for your participation:

Fuzzy Socks, Word & Number Puzzles, Coloring Books, Colors and Throw Blankets.

March 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning Worship 10:00In-person & Zoom	1	2	3   7:00pm Lent Service	4	5	6
7   10:00am Communion Jean Griess, communion elder	8   9:30am Wayne Community Response	9	10   10:00am Pastor at WACAM   7:00pm Lenten Service	11   11:00am Salvation Army Mtg.	12	13
14   Daylight Savings Time Begins – Spring Forward!	15	16	17   7:00pm Lent Service	18   Word in Faith column runs	19	20
21	22   7:00pm Session Meeting	23	24   7:00pm Lent Service	25	26	27
28   Palm/Passion Sunday	29	30	31	1   7:00pm Maundy Thursday

LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT & EASTER

Observe a holy Lenten season this year.

• Palm Sunday Service will be held Sunday, March 28^th at 10:00am (Zoom and in-person).
• The Maundy Thursday service with communion will be held at 7pm Thursday evening, April 9^th (Zoom only).
• Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service Sunday, April 4^th at 10:00am (Zoom and in-person).

MARCH BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

24   Jacob B.

25   Leigh H-S

28   Babs M.

29   Madison U.

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office & Wayne Food Pantry:

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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)

GET OUR NEWSLETTER BY E-MAIL

If you would like to receive this newsletter by e-mail (save a stamp, save a tree!), go to www.fpcwayne.org; on the home page, in the right hand column, there is a widget that says, “NEWSLETTER SUBSCRIPTION: Enter your e-mail address to receive Presbytidings, our church’s newsletter, by e-mail.” Enter your address in the white box, and click on the button that says, “Sign me up!” You will need to confirm your subscription through an e-mail message that will be sent to your inbox; this is safe! It is designed to keep spammers out of the picture! Share our newsletter with all your friends and family. Simple!

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……

Christ gives to the Church all the gifts necessary to be his body. The Church strives to demonstrate these gifts in its life as a community in the world.     (1 Cor. 12:27–28).

At their January meeting the Session discussed how FPC lives into the aspects of being the church described in the PC (USA) Book of Order.

The Church is to be a community of faith, entrusting itself to God alone, even at the risk of losing its life.

The Church is to be a community of hope, rejoicing in the sure and certain knowledge that, in Christ, God is making a new creation. This new creation is a new beginning for human life and for all things. The Church lives in the present on the strength of that promised new creation.

The Church is to be a community of love, where sin is forgiven, and reconciliation is accomplished, and the dividing walls of hostility are torn down.

The Church is to be a community of witness, pointing beyond itself through word and work to the good news of God’s transforming grace in Christ Jesus its Lord. ^[*]

            2020 was certainly a unique and challenging year; however, as a body we were able exemplify aspects of faith, hope, love and witness. As a faith community we cherish the ability to gather for worship which connects us with God and each other. In 2020 despite challenging circumstances, we were a community of faith as we maintained worship, albeit in new ways.  The congregation has been flexible and adaptable, willing to try new things including Zoom worship and our current format of blended worship.  We also share worship and events using social media, such as Facebook, our FPC website and You Tube. Certainly, wouldn’t have thought that would be happening at the beginning of 2020!  As a faith community we entrust ourselves to God seeking to be faithful disciples, which is renewed by worshiping. We all yearn for the day when we can safely return to worship and join our voices in song.

  We are a community of hope through our support of local, national and global mission projects. The Wayne Food Pantry remained in operation with modified procedures to protect volunteers and patrons of Wayne County. The Coat Closet also has been open with modified procedures. The Backpack program continues to grow and we appreciate the volunteer support received from Wayne State students in packing and delivering the backpacks. We also offer referrals to Wayne Community Response which directs folks to agencies which can assist with things like rent, utilities, financial planning. We participated in denominational offerings, One Great Hour of Sharing and Christmas Joy.  We also had a good response to the Filling the Manger, a special Advent offering supporting Presbyterian Mission through the Presbyterian Giving catalog. We had a good response to the Pill Bottle Project sponsored by the Homestead PW to help those in third world countries keep their medicine dry and safe.  

We are a community of love as we offer care and compassion for each other,   helping one another in times of need, especially during this pandemic. We hold each other, the community and the world in prayer. We offer hope and comfort in the times of illness and death through prayer and a ministry of compassion and witness to the resurrection. 

Our physical building on the corner of Third and Lincoln reflects the faith of generations past and of the current congregation who worships here. The building is a part of our community of witness a link between past, present and future. The building is a silent witness to God, but it is the FPC community that moves faith into the world.  As we go into the world, into our homes, workplaces, social circles we witness to our faith with our words and actions, may they reflect the love and patience God extends to us. We pray all our actions point not to ourselves but to the transforming grace of Jesus Christ.

 We know 2021 will have its share of challenges. Like many churches we will have to reengage with our congregation once it’s safe to resume familiar worship practices.  The clerk’s report reveals that we will also need to address declining membership which impacts our financial position. We face a changing landscape in our communities and in the church; however, I hope we choose to look for ways to be creative and innovative. Each of us should be pro-active, open to opportunities to invite and witness to others, in word or deed, sharing the love of Christ. Together we are the church, share your faith, witness and offer the gifts of hope and love. We have challenges ahead; however, we trust as we follow Christ we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit, our ministry will be blessed and God glorified. 

Your fellow servant and steward in Christ,

 Pastor Teresa

FPC ANNUAL REPORT

Pastor Teresa’s letter was from the 2020 Annual Meeting held on Sunday, January 24^th. If you would like a copy of the report, you can pick up a copy on the Opportunity Table or contact Jenny at fpcwayne@gmail.com

ASH WEDNESDAY

We will begin our Wednesday night Lenten services on February 17^th at 7:00pm. All Wednesday Lent services will be via Zoom. The link will be open at 6:30pm for fellowship. Worship will begin at 7:00pm.

COMMUNION

We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper on Sunday, February 7, 2021. Kent Pulfer will serve as the Communion Elder.

PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN & SEWING SOULS

• The Presbyterian Women meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 10th at 2:00pm and will be held in Fellowship Hall.
• Sewing Souls next meeting will be held on Feb. 24^th at 2:00pm. 

HOMESTEAD PRESBYTERY

Homestead presbytery will gather on Saturday, February 20th, beginning at 9:00am, via Zoom. Contact Pastor Teresa for the registration link.

SESSION

The Session will gather on Monday, February 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.

Mid-Week Lenten Services Beginning February 17^th at 7:00 p.m.

We will have a Wednesday evening Lenten service beginning with Ash Wednesday, February 17^th. All the services will be via Zoom since we are unable to have our traditional soup supper before worship. This year’s theme will be “On the Road with Jesus.” The metaphor of journey is often used in reference to the Christian life. In a sense we are on the road from the beginning to the end of our lives. The book “On the Road Again” by James W. Moore is the basis for our Lenten services. Some of Jesus’ most powerful and poignant experiences happened on the road. Moore writes, “…in a real sense, we could say that Jesus spent his whole life on the road. He was born on a road trip, he died on a road trip. And one of his most dramatic post-resurrection appearances occurred on the road to Emmaus.” 

Jesus encountered many people on the road from the rich young ruler, Zacchaeus, Bartimaeus.  Jesus was on a road trip when he came upon the ten men with leprosy and healed them. In our time together we will learn more about some of the people Jesus encountered on the road and how their lives were changed. Please plan to join Wednesday evenings Zoom gathering for a brief worship service as we follow Jesus on the road.

February 17 – Ash Wednesday – Would be Disciples.

February 24 – Rich Young Ruler

March 3 – Zacchaeus

March 10^th – Little Children

March 17 – The Woman Bend Double

March 24 – Pontius Pilate

April 1 – Maundy Thursday – Cleopas and friends

            The link for worship will open at 6:30 p.m. so people can spend some time in fellowship with each other before worship at 7:00 p.m.

LOOKING AHEAD TO LENT & EASTER

Observe a holy Lenten season this year.

• We will begin Lent with an Ash Wednesday service February 17^th.
• Palm Sunday Service on Sunday, March 28, 2021 at 10:00am.
• The Maundy Thursday service with communion will be held Thursday evening, April 1^st.
• Celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord at our Easter Sunday service with Communion at 9:00am on Sunday, April 4^th, 2021.

FPC CHURCH DIRECTORY

Please submit address or phone number changes to fpcwayne@gmail.com or call the office at 402-375-2669. Thank you!

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF WAYNE

THE SESSION 2021

Elder & Class                                     

Jean Griess (Fellowship, Worship) 2021                                        

Jane O’Leary (Outreach, Worship) 2021                                        

Shari Dunklau (Administration, Discipleship) 2022                                       

John Fuelberth (Property) 2022                                       

Mark Hammer (Fellowship, Outreach) 2023                                       

Kent Pulfer (Administration) 2023                                     

BOARD OF DEACONS 2021

Deacon & Class

Misty Beair, 2021                                        

Karen Marra, 2021                                        

Amy Bowers, 2022                                       

Jan Liska, 2022                                       

Connie Bargstadt, 2023                                       

Karen Johnson, 2023                                       

COMMITTEES OF THE CONGREGATION 2021

Nominating Team: Connie Bargstadt, Jean Griess, Karen Johnson, Mark McCorkindale, & Kent Pulfer

Financial Review Team: Phil Griess & Gerard Ras

OFFICERS OF THE CORPORATION: Kent Pulfer, President; Kevin Peterson, Vice-President;

Jane O’Leary, Secretary; John Fuelberth, Treasurer

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mark McCorkindale, Joan Proett, Kent Pulfer

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

(Would you like to see your birthday listed here? 

Just contact the church office 402-375-2669 or fpcwayne@gmail.com)

10      Jodi P.

20      Karen M.

25      Pat S., Gabriel P.

27      Jan L.

28     Amy B.

February 2021 – First Presbyterian Church

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Each Sunday Morning: Worship 10:00	1	2	3	4	5	6
7 10:00am Communion Kent Pulfer, communion elder	8	9	10 2:00pm Presbyterian Women	11	12	13
14	15	16	17 Via Zoom 6:30pm Fellowship 7:00pm Ash Wednesday Service	18	19	20   9:00am Homestead Presbytery via Zoom
21	22   7:00pm Session Mtg.	23	24 2:00pm Sewing Souls   7:00pm Lent Service via Zoom	25	26	27
28

Dixon County 4-H Junior Leaders Soup Take-N-Go

The Dixon County 4-H Junior Leaders will be having a Soup Take-N-Go on Sunday, February 21, 2021 at the Dixon Community from 11:00am – 1:00pm. They will be serving chicken noodle soup and chili. The desert will be a choice of a cinnamon roll or rice crispy bar. All this for only $5! The money raised will go for scholarships and Citizen Washington Focus Trips.

Need more info, check out our flyer in Fellowship Hall.

Contact Information:

First Presbyterian Church

216 W. Third Street

Wayne NE  68787

FPC Office/ Wayne Food Pantry/Wayne Coat Closet

402-375-2669

fpcwayne@gmail.com

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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[*] Presbyterian Book of Order, Part II 2019-2021. F-1.0301, The Church Is the Body of Christ