This Sunday is the first Sunday in the season of Lent. We will share the sacrament of Communion together and reflect on the story of Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand from Mark 6: 30-44 http://bit.ly/3m17xCd. Pastor Katie will preach on “Plans for a Picnic.” We’re thrilled to welcome Jeff Verkuilen to the organ bench and Elliot Stenson will serve as our reader for the day.
Month: February 2023
2023 Season of Lent
Meeting Jesus at the Table
So much of Jesus’ ministry happened at the table, sharing meals and telling stories and joining people in their everyday lives. As we journey through the season of Lent this year, we will focus on scriptures about meals, about eating and drinking, about hospitality, and about what the sacrament of communion means for us. Each Sunday this month we will celebrate communion together in worship—different breads, different liturgy, nuances of meaning, but the same sacrament. We will serve by passing trays down the aisles or by walking forward to receive; we will taste a bread similar perhaps to what manna was like; we will pray with ancient words and contemporary ones. Join us for this special season leading up to Holy Week and Easter.
Would you like to dig deeper into the scriptures that will guide our worship services? Do you have a favorite communion hymn? Have you always wondered about the parts of the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving? Our adult Bible study groups are reading together the book Meeting Jesus At the Table by Cynthia Campbell and Christine Coy Fohr during this season as well. The groups meet on Wednesday nights at 6:30pm online via Zoom or Thursday morning at 11:00 in person at church. Purchase a book from Pastor Katie for $10 and come join us.
Looking ahead to Holy Week 2023
Palm Sunday—April 2nd at 10am
We conclude our Lenten journey with a final celebration of communion as we move from the processional entry into Jerusalem all the way to Jesus’ last supper. A palm parade and a special musical piece from the children of the church will be included in this service.
Maundy Thursday– April 6th at 6pm
The last time Jesus had dinner with his disciples before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion was on Maundy Thursday.
The term “Maundy” comes from the Latin word maundatum, meaning commandment, which refers to Jesus’ statement that night,
“I give you a new commandment; that you love one another…”
A very special worship service is planned to remember this supper on April 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Room. Participants will share a simple soup & bread supper at round tables as we move through a worship service reenactment of foot-washing, Jesus’ teachings, and his last supper that we now know as communion.
This is an interactive service and appropriate for all ages. We ask that you sign up on the bulletin board or call the church office to indicate your attendance so we can plan for our set up and food. Please join us!
Good Friday—April 7th from noon till 3pm
Why do we call it “Good” Friday?
On this day of Holy Week, we commemorate that Jesus willingly went to the cross to die. Some theories indicate it was originally called “God” Friday, or that the Old English reference to “Good” simply meant “Holy”. We will offer an opportunity to contemplate what Jesus did for us on this day, April 7, from 12 noon to 3:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
Come anytime during those hours to experience reflective music, a guide for your personal meditation, and an opportunity to pray. This will not be a formal worship service, but a quiet time together. You are welcome.
The Celebrations Continue for Pastor Ken Sann
On Sunday, February 19, 2023 we had the great honor of hosting a service of worship for Winnebago Presbytery at which Ken Sann was ordained to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament. His journey up to this point took many years, so the celebration was that much sweeter! Special thanks to all who assisted that afternoon in the worship service and in the beautiful reception following. A ministerial robe worn by the late Ted Sperduto was presented to Ken, and our church gave him a lovely green stole featuring the tree of life and streams of living water.
Ken has been called to serve part-time at two small churches in the northern region of our presbytery, Presbyterian churches in Wausaukee and Athelstane. (He has been preaching in these same churches for more than a year, but now he officially becomes their pastor.) He will be installed to this position at each church later this month, and invites us to attend these installation services as we are able. The installation at Wausaukee will be on Sunday, March 12 at 3:00 pm and at Athelstane on Sunday, March 26 at 3:00 pm. Each service will be followed by a celebration meal.
Please join our sisters and brothers in the faith as we continue this celebration of the Spirit in the life of Ken Sann.
2023 Palm Sunday Brunch
Please Join Us Following Worship on April 2, 2023
Please join us in Banner Hall for brunch on Palm Sunday with a menu that includes:
- Egg bakes
- Quiche
- Cheesy Potatoes
- Assorted Breads
- Breakfast Sausages
- Coffee bar
- Assorted Juices and Fruit too!
A free will offering will be taken to offset the cost.
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!
Synod School 2023
July 23-28 at Buena Vista University – Storm Lake, Iowa
Save-the-Date for the Synod of Lakes & Prairies Synod School 2023 is scheduled for July 23-28, 2023. This 69th Synod School is sure to be a great event!
Synod School is a 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.
Registration will begin April 1, 2023.
For more information, please contact Pastor Katie with questions at (920) 437-8121 or email kestes@firstpresgreenbay.org or Joel Morien at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org.
We hope you can join us!
Our Church Directory – Picture Time!
We hope everyone’s had a chance to download the Instant Church Directory app on your phone or signed up on your desktop to view the directory on your computer! If not, please let us know when we can be of assistance to help you.
If you’re already set up, now we’d like you to take a few minutes and swap out the placeholder image that’s in your profile for an actual picture of yourself or your family.
- On the app, select the Menu in the upper left hand corner
- Select Edit My Family
- Choose an image from your phone
And, that’s it!
If the image isn’t perfectly centered don’t worry, once your changes are submitted we’ll go into the directory and make sure the image is centered perfectly. And, if you’d rather we take care of inserting the image for you, simply email it to communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and we’ll get it taken care of.
For step by step instructions on how to change the picture from the website visit https://help.instantchurchdirectory.com/article/638-navigating-the-online-member-directory
And just a reminder, if you’re not set up with the mobile app yet you can download the app to your Apple device at https://bit.ly/3ZsoR2w.
To download the app to your Android device visit https://bit.ly/3Gwr2JN.
And, from your computer visit https://members.instantchurchdirectory.com/.
We hope to see your picture in the directory soon!
Name That Member will soon retire
Well, it’s been all fun and games since we debuted Name that Member! last June with our first profile of Virginia (Ginney) Amen when she celebrated her 100th birthday.
After Ginney we had 14 more members that played our game, but today we find ourselves with no other willing people to play.
If you’d like to keep the game going, please send an email with at least 10 fun facts about yourself to communications@firstpresgreenbay.org —no dead giveaways though!
Or simply visit our website and complete the Name that Member! form and let’s keep the game going!
Thanks to all of our Members who participated as players! We learned more about you and boy did we ever stump some of our other Members with your fun facts!
Our players included:
- Ginny Amen
- Becky Christiansen
- Stephanie Fahringer
- Shirley Schoffelman
- Bobbi Holl
- Jane Bies
- Judy Knutzen-Nerad
- Lisa Olson
- Joel Morien
- Loni McCormick
- Elliot Stenson
- Bruce Deadman
- Amy Wittman
- David Young
- Russ Christensen
To view our player’s profiles, visit our Happening Now page and select the Name that Member! tab along the Happening Now section choices. Thanks for playing!
Gestures of Generosity, March 2023
Thank you for your Gesture!
A devastating earthquake hit Syria and Turkey last month, causing irreparable damage and the loss of more than 35,000 lives so far.
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance was very quickly on the ground with teams to help with rescue, recovery and rebuilding. We included an insert in the bulletin with information on how we could give directly to the cause, and a wonderful gesture of generosity demonstrated how to extend one person’s gifts to much more.
Sue Russell took home that bulletin insert and spent a few days walking door to door in her neighborhood, explaining the effort and soliciting contributions. After just a few hours’ work, she was able to send in a check to PDA for $650. Way to go, Sue!
Thanks for your generous heart!
If you have a Gestures of Generosity story to share, please contact Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and tell us your story.
March 2023 Rundown
Souper Bowl of Caring Tackles Hunger!
Our Souper Bowl of Caring was a great time of food and fellowship! Using muffin tins (genius!) everyone had the opportunity to sample 8 amazing soups. The judging was tough because all were delicious! We had nearly 40 votes and the grand prize winner was chef Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges with her Christmas Corn Chowder. Georjeanna was awarded the golden ladle during worship on February 26th.
We raised $285 for the Presbyterian Pantry but thanks to a generous, anonymous donor, that amount was matched and the grand total raised was $570—wow! Thanks to everyone who attended and voted, and thanks to our amazing chefs—Brooke Bruette, Russ Christensen, Al Smith, Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges, Brenda and George Hubbard, Ross and Lyn Early, Joel and Brittany Morien and Pastor Katie.
Thanks also to our CE Committee who made the event possible and to Mary Belanger who helped configure our crockpot outlets so we didn’t blow a circuit!
Cozy Kids are cozy thanks to you!
THANK YOU to everyone who made our Cozy Kids January Campaign such a success! The kids were so grateful for all the generous contributions! Our community of faith is truly blessed to have so many members who give back to our local community, especially to our friends and families in need at Tank School.
