Highlighting Holy Week

Holy Week 2022

The week begins with Palm Sunday, April 10 at 10:00 a.m. as we join together in worship to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem while waving palm branches and proclaiming our faith. This service will feature a full reading of the Passion story from the gospel of Luke. We welcome everyone to a special brunch following worship.

We continue the journey on Maundy Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. with a different type of worship experience in the Fellowship Room as we remember Jesus’ Last Supper with his disciples and his betrayal by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. This service will be more casual, with the congregation seated around tables and sharing the sacrament together.

Good Friday, April 15 at 7:00 p.m. takes us to the foot of the cross in prayer as we share in a Tenebrae (“darkening”) service, extinguishing candles as the story is shared in scripture, poetry and music.

The good news is that we know the result of it all: The Lord is Risen! Easter Sunday, April 17 at 10:00 a.m. is our celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Bring your family, friends and neighbors to witness to our faith and rejoice in what God has done and is still doing in our world. The Sunday school hour will feature an Easter egg hunt for children.

Palm Sunday Brunch April 10, 2022

Palm Sunday Brunch

Please join us following 10 am worship on April 10 for Palm Sunday Brunch with a menu that includes:

  • Egg Bakes
  • Quiche
  • Muffins
  • Coffee Cake
  • Deviled Eggs
  • Assorted Cheeses
  • Smoked Salmon
  • Breakfast Sausages
  • And – fruit too!

A free will offering will be taken to offset the cost and the remaining funds will benefit the Youth Group mission trip this summer. 

To attend, please sign up on the bulletin board in the hallway or send an RSVP email to office@firstpresgreenbay.org so we have an idea of how much food to prepare.

Don’t miss this great opportunity for fun, food and fellowship – we hope to see you at brunch!

Augusta Jeffrey 2022 Awardee

Augusta Jeffrey Award 2022

Congrats Judy!

It is our pleasure to present this year’s well deserved Augusta Jeffrey Award to Judy Knutzen-Nerad.

Judy has been a member of First Presbyterian Church GB since 1974 and during that time has served multiple terms as Deacon and is currently serving in that role today. She also now serves as an usher and plays a leadership role in organizing ushers for all services.

Always giving of her time and talent, Judy is an active committee member having served on the CE Committee in the past, and currently serves on both the Funeral Committee and Worship Committee. For many years, you’ve received a newsletter because Judy helped in the office each month and when needed she also volunteers as a substitute for Leah.

The advent wreath we’re blessed to use in worship each year since 1977 is entirely thanks to Judy who donated this in memory of her first husband, Paul. This past year in 2021, the wreath as well as other Advent decorations in the sanctuary were updated by Judy and she also donated the Fellowship Room Christmas tree.

Each year the Augusta Jeffrey awardee designates the $600 award funds to an area of ministry in which the church is engaged and Judy has designated this year’s funds towards sanctuary beautification, with the purchase of a few new banners in mind.

Daughters, Kristin and Tammy, were in attendance at our recognition celebration on Sunday, March 27th when Judy received the 2022 Augusta Jeffrey Award. As Covid prevented us from having a reception last year, we also celebrated 2021 awardees, Lisa Olson and Amy Wittman.

We are very blessed to have Judy as a member of our church. The next time you see Judy, please take a minute to give her a big thanks for all the generosity she’s shown our community of faith.

Looking ahead to Vacation Bible School

Vacation Bible School

Mark your calendars for an amazing Vacation Bible School that will take place July 11-14 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. as we explore together the “Heroes” of our faith!

We’ll consider the armor they wear, their masks, the super-powers they have, and what role models they provide to us all. Perhaps we will even recognize a few heroes among us!

Kids from Pre-K through 5th grade are welcome, and youth are always welcome as helpers. Invite your grandchildren, family members, friends, and neighbors. All are welcome! Songs, supper, crafts, games, and so much fun are all in the plans—don’t miss it! For more information, contact our Director of Children, Youth and Families, Joel Morien, at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org or call 920-437-8121.

Jazz Service on April 24, 2022

NEW Dixie Ramblers

The April 24, 2022 worship service at 10am will feature the NEW Dixie Ramblers, a local traditional jazz group that’s been playing together since 2015.

Our own Bruce Deadman is a founding member of the band, and many of you have heard them before at church, Farmer’s Market, or at the Blue Opus. Let’s let Bruce tell the story:

“The Ramblers were founded by local attorney Jon Olson just so he and his wife Patti could have a live band at their annual Mardi Gras bash, ironically held just a few blocks from church at that BIG mansion on Oakland. Turns out that first gig exceeded expectations by a lot, so we decided to stay together and see what developed. Seven years later and we are still at it, although Jon and Patti have moved to New Orleans and we’ve had a few other personnel changes. We really enjoyed playing at the former Blue Opus, and our next favorite thing to do is playing for church services like ours. We are happy to give of our time and talent for your (we hope) inspiration and enjoyment.”

For more on the band visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/NEWDixieRamblers/.

No Experience Required!

Fellowship and Faith

We’re so happy that Fellowship hour has returned each week following 10am worship, but we can’t do it without you! Not only do we need you for fellowship, we need host volunteers for fellowship to happen.

There’s nothing to it. You don’t need to make anything, don’t need to buy anything. Just set out the bowl of prepackaged snacks, turn the coffee pot on and mix up some lemonade. When fellowship ends, put everything back in its place and lock up. Easy-peasy.

Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board for April and May or email us at office@firstpresgreenbay.org.

Please consider a Sunday that works best for you because without host volunteers, fellowship simply can’t happen.

Synod School 2022

Synod School 2022

The 2022 Synod School will take place July 24-29 at Buena Vista University – Storm Lake, Iowa. It’s an opportunity for learning and personal enrichment experience for people of all ages that seeks to create an environment of hospitality, healing, and hope. The week is designed for laity and clergy, and individuals and fami­lies with classes and activities for adults, youth, and children.

Come…

To participate in a unique experience of Christian community as we worship, study, play, and live together;

To grow in faith through action, relationships, and a centering of the spirit;

For continuing education, for a special family experience, or for individual growth;

To take it all in, then return home to share and serve.

The 2022 Synod School theme is:

Experiencing Belonging

“…so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually, we are members one of another.” Romans 12:5

What does it mean to be a part of the body of Christ and to belong to one another? In the spirit of Christ’s community, we will walk through biblical experiences of belonging. Exploring the communities, we find member­ship within, we will discover how we can belong to one another and to Christ more fully.

To register or for more information, visit www.lakesandprairies.org/SynodSchool. Contact Pastor Katie with questions at kestes@firstpresgreenbay.org or call the office at (920) 437-8121.

How we can help people in Ukraine

Pray for Ukraine

Resources from Presbyterian Mission

It is evident that the situation unfolding in Ukraine is rapid and everchanging. With the war shifting, many Ukrainian families have been forced to flee their homes in order to maintain their safety. With news outlets frequently reporting about the crisis, you may find yourself wondering what you can do to help those affected.

Here’s what Presbyterian Mission, a division of Presbyterian Church USA, says you can do:

GIVE

Donations can be made by calling (800) 872-3283, by texting “PDAUKR” to 41444, online at https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000156/ or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church USA with “DR000156-Ukraine” on the memo line mailed to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

ACT

Download the Bulletin Insert and spread the word. You can also urge the U.S. government to support generous aid for refugees and civilians suffering in Ukraine, and call for engaging a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

PRAY

“May we undergird our prayers with tangible resources to help.
May we reach deeply, give generously, and welcome extravagantly.
May we lift our voices in a strong and unified advocacy.
May we all, even as we breathe in lament, breathe out mercy, hope and peace.
And in this Lenten season, when we walk the way toward death and resurrection, repent our complicity in cultures of violence and renew our efforts toward justice and peace.”

— Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

April 2022 Rundown

Monthly Rundown

Cozy Kids Campaign

The Outreach Committee would like to thank all, so much, for the wonderfully successful Cozy Kids 2022 Campaign. Due to the church closure in January it was a great surprise to receive the amount of beautiful donations that we did. Stephanie Fahringer’s jeep was full to overflowing and so appreciated by the Tank School faculty! They couldn’t wait to see the faces of their students as they were given all the items they so need.

The Cozy Kids opportunity has been a huge part of the Outreach Committee for many years and passes on First Presbyterian Church kindness and caring to our neighborhood. God Bless all!

30-Hour Famine

The weekend of March 18th, we had 8 youth and 3 adults participate in our 30-hour famine. The fast began on Friday at 1pm and 7pm Saturday evening the fast was broken with a rice, veggie and chicken meal. Throughout the hours together the focus was learning more about hunger, starvation and malnutrition and all walked away with a deeper appreciation for the global problem and just how blessed each were to not have that first-hand experience. We’re so proud of the youth’s perseverance and the level of seriousness they took with the famine.

Help for Ukraine

To date, we’ve raised $1,220 for Ukraine. Thank you for your prayers and generosity!

Celebration of Life

A joyous celebration of the life of Bob Nickel, our beloved Director of Music who died in early February, was held on March 25 with a capacity crowd filling the Sanctuary. Bob had planned and written the entire service including music, scripture and prayers. Thanks be to God for his life and ministry among us!