Month: November 2022

November 21, 2022 Name that Member BIG REVEAL!

Cheri Simonet
Name that Member

Earlier this week we featured our Monday Member Spotlight Name that Member through email and on our social media and now it’s time for the BIG REVEAL! In case you missed it, here’s our Member’s story:

  • I was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
  • My favorite childhood memories were being able to fly a plane and I went on three cruises.
  • I am the 3rd generation of my family that belongs to this church.
  • My favorite thing to do is hang out with friends and family.
  • What I love most about being a member of this church is that I get to be included in lots of things.
  • I’ve been a member of our church for 12 years.
  • My favorite place to visit is my cabin in Northern Wisconsin and it’s my favorite spot in the world!
  • I’m most passionate about my service to my country.
  • I have Morton’s toe (my big toe is shorter than my middle toe).
  • I’m a 2nd degree black belt in karate.
  • My best friend is the son of the pastor at another Presbyterian Church.

Who am I?

Do you give up?

I’m Elliott Stenson!

Did you guess correct? What gave it away? Was it the Morton’s toe?

Tell us your story! Complete our Name that Member Form or email csimonet@firstpresgreenbay.org so you can be featured in an upcoming Monday Member Spotlight of Name that Member!

This Advent Season – From Generation to Generation

Cheri Simonet
Advent

Our theme for the Advent season this year is From Generation to Generation, focusing on the words from Mary’s song of protest and praise from the first chapter of Luke when she sings –

“Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy

is his name. His mercy is for those who fear him from

generation to generation.” (Luke 1: 48-50)

Despite the challenges and vulnerability she faced, Mary could glimpse the scale and scope of the good news she was part of bringing forth. This good news transcends all time and space—it was and is bigger than just her. Christ is coming for collective liberation: God’s redemption is at work for years to come.

Therefore, the promise is meant to be lived out and passed on from generation to generation.

The four Sundays of Advent will lead us through the familiar story looking at the people in each text to see what they passed on or contributed to us. We begin with Matthew’s genealogy and a consideration of all those who came before; the second Sunday takes us into Mary’s annunciation and her reactions; the third Sunday will be an examination of Joseph and his role in the overall narrative; and the fourth week will share the relationship between Elizabeth and Mary and how they witness to God’s work in each other.

From Generation to Generation reminds us all of the ways our lives, histories, actions and stories are interconnected and woven together. In this season of Advent, join us to practice belonging to each other in the midst of God’s work among us.

Advent Devotionals

The holidays are actually holy days as well, and the Christian Education committee wants to support your experience of Advent with a free devotional booklet for you to use.

Attending to Advent: Poetry, Prose and Prayer is a beautiful daily devotional designed for you to dip in and out of as your time and attention allow. Read a poem, reflect on scripture, refresh your spirit with a prayer. And for families with young children, Light Shines in the Darkness is another daily devotional designed with kids in mind. This one is full of activities and short readings to share around the dinner table or at bedtime. Both booklets are available at the back of the sanctuary. Help yourself!

December At-a-Glance

Advent begins Sunday, November 27

Our Advent Theme: From Generation to Generation

Confirmation Sunday is December 11

Blue Christmas is at 6pm on Thursday, December 15

Christmas Eve service is at 6pm on Saturday, December 24

Christmas Day service is at 10am on Sunday, December 25

Gestures of Generosity – Thanksgiving Blessings

Cheri Simonet
Gestures of Generosity Presbyterian Pantry

By Stephanie Fahringer

A car pulled up in the alley as I was unloading my jeep full of pantry Thanksgiving turkeys. The driver got out and asked if he could deliver some items he just bought for the Pantry.

This gentleman is a former Pantry guest and just wanted to say,

“Thanks for all the Presbyterian Pantry has done for me”.

I told him a HUGE THANK YOU and God Bless You!

Its Gestures of Generosity like this that make our community of faith what it is.

Gestures of Generosity is a new feature to our Connections newsletter. If you have a Gesture of Generosity that you’d like to share with our community, please contact Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org.

And, thank you to all who returned their 2023 Gestures of Generosity Pledge Cards. If you haven’t done so already, please return your pledge card as soon as possible. Thank you in advance for your generous support of our Gestures of Generosity campaign!

Advent 2022 Bible Study

Cheri Simonet
Advent in Plain Sight

Don’t let the rush and stress of the holidays make you forget what it’s really all about.

The season of Advent, with its familiar story and deep meaning for us all, is a perfect time to commit to a short-term Bible study with members of your family of faith!

Advent in Plain Sight – a Devotion Through Ten Objects by Jill Duffield is our study book and is available from Pastor Katie for $10.00. The format is a short daily devotional for each day of the week, focusing on ten ordinary objects that appear in the scriptures (and in our daily lives) to remind us that God still dwells among us, even in the most ordinary places.

Groups meet on Wednesday evenings on Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30 pm and on Thursday mornings in person at the church from 11:00 am to noon.

To join, please contact Pastor Katie at kestes@firstpresgreenbay.org or contact the office at office@firstpresgreenbay.org or call (920) 437-8121 to reserve a copy of the book. We hope you can join us!

Blue Christmas December 15, 2022

Cheri Simonet
Blue Christmas

For any of us who have experienced loss or are in the midst of struggles, the holidays can be a particularly painful time, stirring up grief in acute ways. As a result, churches of every denomination and style have adopted the practice of a “Blue Christmas” service.

This time of worship is designed to provide space for prayer, reflection, and remembrance in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle. It will include special music, candle lighting, and the sacrament of holy communion. All are welcome to join us at 6:00 pm on Thursday, December 15th in the sanctuary for this contemplative service of worship. A dessert reception will follow in the Fellowship Room. Invite a friend or neighbor!

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day 2022

Cheri Simonet
Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve is on Saturday, December 24 which means Christmas Day falls on a Sunday this year! Because of the tight calendar, we will host one service only on Christmas Eve, at 6:00 pm. This service will feature special choral music, an extended message for the children present, and candlelighting.

On Christmas morning at 10:00 am we will gather for a casual service of lessons and carols and we encourage everyone to wear your Christmas pajamas or Christmas sweaters or other festive garb. There will be no fellowship hour after either of these services.

Bring your family and join us for either or both times of worship.

Please Support Christmas Prayer Baskets 2022

Cheri Simonet
Christmas Prayer Baskets

It’s not too late to help with our 2022 Christmas Prayer Baskets!

If you haven’t already heard, we’re excited to once again be ‘adopting’ three families from nearby Tank Elementary School to bless with our love, prayers and Christmas gifts and a meal. And it’s not too late for you to support the cause!

We’ve obtained wish lists for the children and adults in each family and those wishes have been placed in three separate baskets on the table in the back of the Narthex. Members should take a tag or tags from the baskets and return your gifts to the church unwrapped by Thursday, December 15th. Monetary contributions are also welcome.

We are also in need of individuals or households who would be willing to coordinate each of the three families. The coordinator’s role is to make sure the wishes are distributed and returned, then to deliver the gifts and meal. Our youth group will wrap and tag all the gifts during their December 16th lock-in.

If you’re interested in becoming one of the coordinators, please contact the church office at office@firstpresgreenbay.org or sign-up sheets are on the Outreach bulletin board at the bottom of the stairs in Banner Hall.

Thank you for your support!

Confirmation Sunday December 11, 2022

Cheri Simonet
Confirmation

It has been a number of years since this congregation has held a confirmation class. Pastor Katie and CE Director, Joel Morien, began a journey more than a year ago with four students, meeting weekly to discuss faith, the history and practices of the Presbyterian Church, the meaning of worship and the sacraments, and how it all connects to the promises made for them when they were baptized.

Nana Berko, Jessica Gauthier, Porter Siewert and Eric Sperduto have now confirmed their faith before the Session a few weeks ago and will lead us all in worship on Sunday, December 11th.

These youth have planned each element of the service, studied the scripture for the day, and are excited to stand before their congregation and say what they believe. Please join us that day to celebrate and thank God for them.

Please Support Our 2022 Christmas Toy Shop

Cheri Simonet
Christmas Toy Shop

This year our Toy Shop, that benefits Pantry guests, will be held on Tuesday, December 13th. Please consider donating toys to support our cause.

Toys are needed for ages 2 through 18 years old and should be dropped off before Sunday, December 11th. Toys for teenagers are especially needed. Please place your unwrapped donations in the toy chest that’s at the bottom of the Sanctuary stairs.

And for those who’re not interested in shopping, you can contribute with a monetary gift by selecting the Pantry Toy Shop Fund through our online giving portal or send a check to the office at 200 S. Ashland Avenue, 54302 and note Toy Shop in the memo line.

As guests arrive for the Pantry between 10am and noon, they’ll receive a slip of paper to shop the toy shop. We’re in need of 3-4 of Santa’s elves to be personal shoppers for our guests. Personal shoppers will assist our guests to choose from the age-appropriate selection of toys. If you’re able to help as a personal shopper elf, please call Jane Bies at 920-621-6400.

Thank you for your support and for helping us make a Merrier Christmas for those in need!

Youth Group 2022 Lock-In

Cheri Simonet
Christmas Baskets

It’s time once again for our Annual Youth Group Lock-in! This annual tradition started many, many years ago with the task of wrapping Christmas gifts for Tank Elementary School families that our church adopts for Christmas each year.

The Christmas Prayer Basket campaign, supported by the Outreach Committee, selects three families to adopt each year from nearby Tank Elementary School. We obtain wish lists for the children and adults in each family and those wishes are placed in three separate baskets on the table in the back of the Narthex. Congregation members select from the tags and return gifts unwrapped to the church by Thursday, December 15th. And the following night of the 16th is when our Youth Group gathers in the Memorial Room to wrap the dozens on dozens of presents generously donated by our members.

Although the primary purpose for the youth getting together is to wrap all those presents, the larger picture is having our youth connect with the local community and with those who’re less fortunate than us. Our youth focus on seeing those who are sometimes forgotten and unseen during the busy hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. The lock-in is the fun part of it but moreover youth draw a connection to how fortunate we are to be blessed in so many ways. It’s easy to take for granted our blessings and there’s no better time of year than Christmas to reflect, remember and give thanks for all those blessings.

We gather at 6:30 on Friday, December 16th to wrap, retire to the youth group room for our sleepover and return home the following morning after breakfast. It’s a memorable and rewarding experience for all who participate. If you’d like to know more or get involved in this year’s lock-in, please contact Director of Children, Youth and Families, Joel Morien, at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org. And thank you to all our members who will generously donate those gifts for the youth to wrap!