Month: December 2022

Coming Soon in 2023 – Online Church Directory

Cheri Simonet
Instant Church Directory

View our church directory online or via the FREE mobile app.

The Communication and Technology team are hard at work getting our Online Church Directory all set up for its 2023 debut! Stay tuned for news on our Download App Parties and Picture Parties set to happen during Fellowship Hour in February and March, 2023.

Our Directory App Team will be on hand to help download the free mobile app available for download at the Apple App store in iTunes, Google Play store and the Amazon Fire App Store. Or if you like, don’t wait for the App Party – download your App today! Simply search for “Instant Church Directory” to get the download.

Want to join our Directory App Team? Contact us at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and join the party!

Our Church Directory will be powered by Instant Church Directory.

Instant Church Directory

December 19, 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 was being a leprechaun in the St. Patrick’s Day play in elementary school.
  • I am married with two kids (son and daughter).
  • I have one sister and no brothers.
  • My favorite thing to do is to travel.
  • What I love most about being a member of this church is the people–we have such a wonderful community of people in the church.
  • I’ve been a member of our church for my entire life.
  • My favorite place to visit is Walt Disney World.
  • I’m most passionate about my family. Even though my kids are “adults” I am very passionate about my family.
  • I failed my driver’s test miserably–I didn’t even make it out of the parking stall on my first try. Must have been the shortest driver’s test on record.

Who am I?

Do you give up?

I’m Amy Wittman!

Betcha didn’t know all that about Amy, did you?

But more importantly – are you comfortable with Amy driving your carpool?

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!

2023 Cozy Kids Campaign

Cheri Simonet
Cozy Kids 2023

January 1-31

The Cozy Kids Campaign for Tank School starts January 1st and goes through January 31st. The annual drive to collect winter items for the kids at Tank Elementary School, from our community at First Presbyterian aims to keep those kids cozy with a collection of items needed this year of:

  • Hats
  • Mittens
  • Boots
  • Jackets
  • Underwear
  • Socks
  • Chapstick
  • Kleenex

Anything that will help the kids at Tank get through the winter would be greatly appreciated. All donations can be gently used – we’ll find them a home. Please place the items – by January 31 – on the table at the back of the sanctuary.

Please help keep Tank kids COZY this winter.

The Outreach Committee thanks you for your support!

January 2023 Gestures of Generosity

Cheri Simonet
Gestures of Generosity 2022

Thank you for your Gesture!

One of the greatest gestures of generosity that any one person can give is the gift of themselves in the service of others. Judy Knutsen-Nerad is that person filled with Gestures of Generosity. She is selfless in the time, energy and effort she brings to our office whenever the need arises.

In early December, Leah took ill for more than a week and without hesitation, Judy quickly stepped in to fill the void. Whether it be answering the phone, receiving visitors, putting together the bulletin or working on the newsletter, throughout the year Judy doesn’t hesitate in the least to help when called and always with heartwarming smiles. Judy’s positive energy never falters and we’re all so thankful for how she gives so generously of her time and talent. THANK YOU, Judy, for your ongoing Gestures of Generosity!

Merry Christmas from Red Lobster! by Stephanie Fahringer

Gestures of Generosity

Meet James… James is Manager of Red Lobster on Lombardi Ave. Red Lobster donates frozen potatoes & Red Lobster biscuits for our pantry on a weekly basis.

For this Christmas season James & his entire crew donated nearly $600.00 of toys for our Toy Shop with a huge resounding MERRY CHRISTMAS from our Red Lobster crew!!

I am overwhelmed by the kindness & generosity displayed. James delivered them to our church & made sure I saw the guitar that he picked out!
A huge THANK YOU to all of your crew & may you all have a BLESSED & BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS! AMEN

Socks of Love receives some unsolicited Love

A new element of our annual Advent Workshop was a service project called “Socks of Love.” We collected donations of travel-sized toiletries and other items that might benefit people experiencing homelessness in our community, then stuffed them into a pair of warm wool socks. Thanks to all who contributed to filling these socks of love. An extremely generous financial contribution came in through our online giving portal to support this project as well, so we’ll be making more Socks of Love soon—thank you to our secret supporter!

We’d love to include your story in one of our upcoming Gestures of Generosity newsletter columns.

If you have a Gestures of Generosity story to share, please contact Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org.

January 2023 Rundown

Cheri Simonet
Monthly Rundown

FMSC is a WINNER and awarded $10,000!

Thank you to all who voted in Thrivent Financial’s “Carols for a Cause” contest! We placed third so our Feed My Starving Children: Green Bay MobilePack will receive $10,000. That’s over 41,600 meals for children in need! It also means that our 2022 fundraising goal has now been met and we have started raising money to kick off the efforts for 2023. We are so incredibly grateful to the team at Thrivent for selecting our organization to be a part of this amazing contest and for their generous support, not only of our cause, but others from the Green Bay area as well.

Advent Workshop

We kicked off the Advent season with a wonderful chili lunch and workshop to get us all in the mood for the Christmas season. Cookies were decorated and eaten, candles were crafted, and hot chocolate spoons were created for gift-giving. We stuffed 48 pair of wool socks with necessary toiletries and other goodies for people experiencing homelessness. What a great day! Thank you to everyone who participated in this wonderful event.

Christmas Prayer Baskets

Our three adopted families had a beautiful Christmas thanks to so many wonderful people! All the tags were taken from our baskets to fill each family’s wish lists. Many people within the church and several outside of our church helped make this possible. The Outreach Committee thanks everyone so much for the wonderful presents and for spreading joy!

Toy Shop

This year’s Toy Shop on December 13th for our Pantry guests was a great success! We served 51 families and gave away toys for 221 kids! Thank you to everyone for your generous support with monetary gifts and toys, and special THANKS to our elves that were personal shoppers. Thanks to everyone’s support there’s 221 kids who found presents under the tree on Christmas morning!

Youth Lock-In

Our Youth had a great time with their annual lock-in on December 16th! Presents were wrapped for our three adopted families for our annual prayer basket campaign. There was Christmas trivia with prizes and one of the prizes was a 1 pound gummy bear! Who wouldn’t be happy to win a 1 pound gummy bear as a prize? It was a wonderful time of fellowship. As youth wrapped for our adopted families, they were reminded just how fortunate we are to have presents under our own trees and grateful for the opportunity to help others in need.

2023 Souper Bowl of Caring

Cheri Simonet
Souper Bowl of Caring

Save—the—Date: February 12, 2023

Thanks to Covid, our Souper Bowl of Caring has taken a hiatus since 2020 but we have our grand return planned for Sunday February 12, 2023!

The Souper Bowl of Caring is a national movement. Since 1990, over $175 million has been reported donated to local food charities across all fifty states with over 305,000 unique groups participating. The organizers unite all communities to Tackle Hunger.

Our #FirstPresGB Souper Bowl of Caring is led by the Christian Education Committee along with Youth Group and is held annually on Super Bowl Sunday. The event is meant to bring an awareness to hunger and to curb hunger through soup. The cost will be $5/person and there will be 8 different soup stations for people to experience. Each soup sampler will have a chance to vote and judge our Souper Bowl winner. The awardee will receive the cherished Golden Spoon that’s passed on year over year to the awarded winner.

More details will follow in February’s newsletter but in the meantime, we’re looking for 8 soup chefs to help us pull this off! All you need to do is craft a crock pot full of your favorite soup.

If you’re able to be one of our 8 soup chefs, please contact Director of Children, Youth and Families, Joel Morien, at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org

2nd Annual Burns Dinner – January 28, 2023

Cheri Simonet
Burns Dinner

Join us for our Second Annual Burns Night Dinner & Tasting on January 28th:

An Evening in the Highlands

You don’t want to miss out on a hearty feast, scotch tasting and a Scottish celebration! Proceeds from the evening will go to ongoing efforts that support those impacted in Florida by Hurricane Ian.

Held throughout the world on Burns Night (or on an evening closest to it), a traditional Burns supper is an event that celebrates poet Robert Burns’ life and work.

Special entertainment for the evening includes the Clan Donald Pipe Band, the Irish Heritage Dancers, Sword Dancing, Address to the Haggis, and much more!

Our Burns Dinner evening begins with an optional Scotch tasting of four scotches of varying taste profiles from all over Scotland.

When: Saturday, January 28th

5:00 pm optional Scotch Tasting

6:30 pm Dinner & Program

Cost: $50.00 per person for Dinner & Program

$20.00 per person for Scotch Tasting

Where: Green Bay Distillery

835 Mike McCarthy Way, Ashwaubenon

The Menu:

Tequila Lime Salmon or BBQ Pork Loin

Each will include salad, potato, veggies, rolls, dessert bars and coffee

The Attire:

Business casual (kilts are strongly encouraged)

Make your reservations today! Tickets are limited and the deadline for purchasing tickets is fast approaching.

Purchase tickets online here or contact First United Presbyterian Church in DePere during business hours at 920-336-1446.

We hope to see you there!

Unforced Rhythms of Grace

Cheri Simonet
2023 APCE Annual Event

An APCE Continuing Education Event

In late January, Pastor Katie Estes and CE Director, Joel Morien, will be in Birmingham, Alabama attending the annual conference of the Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE).

“Walk with me and work with me…learn the Unforced Rhythms of Grace” is the theme of this year’s event for pastors and educators in in the PC(USA) and partner churches. Keynote speakers and worship leaders include John Pavlovitz, Katie Nakamura Rengers, CeCe Armstrong, G. Phillip Shoultz III and Michael Waters.

Katie and Joel will also choose from among 70 different workshops and experience Sabbath with colleagues from around the country. Thank you for making continuing education possible.

For more on the event visit 2023 APCE Annual Event.

Per Capita Sunday January 22, 2023

Cheri Simonet
Per Capita

What is per capita? Did you check that box on your pledge card, committing to pay $38.00 for each adult member of your household this year? Why do we ask for that above and beyond your regular pledge? Are we contributing to things we don’t want to?! How can we know?

On January 22, 2023, we will answer all these questions and more!

The PC(USA) (our denomination) has invited all Presbyterians to center their worship services around the ways in which we are called into mutual support and ministry through per capita giving. Our worship on this day will focus our attention on the larger issues of our denomination and the connectional nature of being Presbyterian.

The Generosity Team will host the coffee fellowship time and engage further discussion as well. We hope you can join us!

Small Gifts Make a Big Difference in 2023

Cheri Simonet
Gestures of Generosity

We want to express our sincere gratitude for your generous support of our 2023 Pledge Campaign, Gestures of Generosity. Gifts with personal meaning have a powerful impact. View our Gestures of Generosity videos on our YouTube Channel.

If you have not returned your 2023 pledge yet, please complete the pledge card and mail to the church office at 200 S. Ashland Avenue, 54303 or bring it to worship on any Sunday. Your pledge is needed and will make a difference as the Session finalizes our church’s plans and Ministry funding for this year. If you’ve misplaced your pledge card, please contact the office at office@firstpresgreenbay.org or call at 920-437-8121 and we’ll provide you with a new one.

As a reminder, the per capita for 2023 is $38.00 per member for the year.

Thank you again!