Blog

Installation of Pastor Katie Estes – October 10th at 4:00pm

Cheri Simonet

Our installation of The Rev. Katie Estes as our pastor has been delayed for too many months, and at least some of us are wondering why we even need to do it at all. What’s the point of an installation when she’s already been serving among us for almost a year? But unlike the standard notification from an appliance store that “your installation is scheduled,” a pastoral installation is the occasion for great celebration, so we need to do it!

The Presbytery of Winnebago is actually the “host” for this event, though in all truth they turn all the details over to us. So what can we expect? A wonderful full service of worship, special music featuring the Griffon String Quartet, an ensemble and a soloist, scripture and sermon, a charge to the congregation and another to the pastor, and then a lovely reception in the Fellowship Room for all our guests. We will have guests here—the current moderator of Winnebago Presbytery as well as several elders and pastors representing the presbytery, plus a few family members and friends of Katie’s from her former congregation in St. Paul. While the service of installation doesn’t change anything about our call to Katie or the relationship we’ve already spent almost a year developing, it does mark the official beginning of this ministry we are doing together, and who doesn’t like an excuse for a party? Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for this special occasion. The honor of your presence is requested!

Grow Through Giving: Stewardship Focus for 2021

Cheri Simonet

As our committees prepare their budget requests and we begin to build a ministry budget for our congregation for 2022, the Stewardship Committee is pleased to present our focus theme for this effort: “Grow Through Giving.” For four weeks of October, we will offer ways for everyone to turn their attention to God’s generous gifts to us and our generous response. In worship we will look at the creation story, the farming parables of Jesus, biblical instructions about giving and the imperative to grow. We will sing as many hymns as we can find about seeds, soil, and growth. With the children we will actually plant and nurture a seed, and, fingers crossed, we will observe its growth! A letter with more details and your pledge card will sent to homes. Commitment Sunday will be on October 31, and more information about that special day is below. We sincerely hope that each member and friend of First Presbyterian will catch this vision and “grow through giving” to the church for our future and God’s ministry in this place.

Welcome New Director of Children, Youth & Families!

Cheri Simonet

The Personnel Committee and Christian Education Committee are delighted to introduce to our congregation the newest member of our staff, Joel Morien. Joel will serve in a part-time (20 hrs/week) position as our Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries. He will be formally introduced on Sunday October 3 in the worship service, and you can stop by and greet him in the church office on an upcoming Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday during office hours. Joel hails from Appleton, where he and his wife Brittany live in a household ruled by their almost 3-year old daughter Aubrey.

Joel has lots of experience with youth ministry and has crossed paths with some of us in this congregation in years past, when he directed camps and retreats at Pilgrim Center as well as leading youth programs at Synod School. He served as Youth Ministry Director for three years at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Appleton. Here at FPC Green Bay, he will be responsible, working alongside the CE Committee, for ministry and programming for our youngest children through high school youth and their families. Joel’s approach to ministry is relationship-based and team-oriented, so come meet him and join in his welcome to our congregation!