Category: Adults

New Bible Study Begins April 10th and 11th

Cheri Simonet
Esther's Feast bible study book cover

Esther’s Feast, a study of the book of Esther in the Old Testament, will be our final weekly Bible study for the program year.

Written by Patricia Tull, a professor of Old Testament at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, the book of Esther is filled with contemporary themes of vengeance, violence, power, and racial and gender conflicts. Set in the ancient empire of Persia, it almost reads like a fairy tale, drawing us into its extravagantly dangerous, darkly funny, sharply satirical, and yet breathtakingly poignant world of intrigue. It is most unusual among books of the Bible in that God never appears nor is even mentioned in our modern text.

Join us for this six-week study of an ancient story that is surprisingly current. The study book is available as a download for your tablet or may be printed by the church office.

We will meet on Wednesday evenings via Zoom from 6:30 to 7:30pm or on Thursday mornings in person at the church from 11:00am to noon, beginning on April 10th and 11th. Participants may switch back and forth between meetings as needed. See Pastor Katie for more information.

Synod School 2024 Theme: More Than We Can Imagine

Cheri Simonet
Synod School 2024 logo

July 21-26 at Buena Vista University – Storm Lake, Iowa

The Synod of Lakes & Prairies Synod School 2024 is scheduled for July 21-26, 2024. This 70th 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.

2024 is the 70th year of Synod School in Iowa. We have many great events planned for this week! People will come from all over the country with their friends and families to share in this week of worship, study, play, and life together. It is an opportunity to learn something new, to continue conversations begun by keynote speakers with others over meals or a board game, to share talents of creativity and music, to worship without being in charge, to be energized for service, and to enjoy not having to cook for a week.

2024 Synod School Theme: More Than We Can Imagine

“Now to God who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to the power that is at work within us, to God be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen”

Eph. 3-20-21

The group that gathered to plan for the first Synod School event seventy years ago could not have imagined what brings us to Synod School in 2024. It has become more than they could have imagined! Multi-generation families, tie dye, more classes proposed than we have room for, “the best week of the entire year”….

As we look to the future of the Church, what will it look like? What innovations are already happening? What is yet to come? As we think about the lives of the young people in our lives, what will their futures be? What innovations will renew their lives and ministries? God is already doing things we cannot even imagine. What a difference can that make in our lives and ministries?

Registration has begun so register today!

For registration or 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!

Church Chix Gather April 4, 2024

Cheri Simonet
Church Chix

Please join us, women of all ages, for our January Church Chix Social on Thursday, April 4th!

Our dinner reservation is for 6:00pm and we’ll dine on the West side of town at Narrow Bridge Plate + Pour located at 2840 Shawano Avenue.

Some Chix like to meet up for a cocktail the hour before dinner so that’s always an option and before our evening wraps up we’ll decide where next month’s dinner will be, trying our best to alternate the east side of town with the west side of town. No monthly commitment required.

To attend, you can email an RSVP to office@firstpresgreenbay.org or there’s a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board.

For more information, please contact the office at (920) 437-8121.

So, if you haven’t already RSVP’d, do it today and join the Church Chix April social for a great night of laughter that’s sure to be memorable!

Singers are Invited!

Cheri Simonet
Music notes

The Lent and Easter season is full of wonderful music that enhances our worship in so many ways. Our organist, Michael Raught, is gathering a choir to sing several times this month—would you like to join in?

All are welcome!

The group will sing on Sunday March 10th, Palm Sunday – March 24th, and also on Easter Sunday – March 31st. Rehearsals will be held on Thursday evenings in the choir room from 6:30 to 7:30pm. You don’t need to attend every week, but your voice will add a lot to our musical offering if you can come and learn and practice with us.

Please direct any questions to Michael on Sunday mornings.

March 2024 Fourth Sunday Forum

Cheri Simonet
Golden House Logo

Sunday, March 24th

Please join us for our Fourth Sunday Forum that takes place on March 24th at 9am prior to our worship service in the Fellowship Room. This month we’ll be joined by a representative from Golden House.

Founded in 1979, Golden House is a secure place where victims of domestic abuse find compassionate, knowledgeable advocates offering confidential, individualized help. Serving Brown County, Golden House assists individuals and families of ALL ages, genders, races, sexual orientation, and gender expression with counseling, temporary shelter, 24-Hour help, legal assistance (restraining and harassment order filing assistance), support groups, housing options, prevention education and more.

Free and confidential services for guests include:

  • Safety: Safety Planning, Crisis Counseling, Restraining Orders
  • Support: Mental Health Therapy, Support Groups, Parent Mentoring
  • Housing: Emergency Shelter, Flexible Safe Home Support
  • Prevention Education: Healthy Relationships and Childhood Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, there is help and support available at the Golden House. Call their 24 hour help line at 920-432-4244 or toll free 877-431-4321.

Synod School 2024

Cheri Simonet
Lakes & Prairies Synod

July 21-26 at Buena Vista University – Storm Lake, Iowa

Synod School 2024 logo

The Synod of Lakes & Prairies Synod School 2024 is scheduled for July 21-26, 2024. This 70th 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 begins in April.

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!

An Evening in the Highlands

Cheri Simonet
An Evening in the Highlands

Join First United Presbyterian Church of De Pere on Saturday, February 17, at 5:30pm for a one-of-a-kind event – “An Evening in the Highlands” at the Green Bay Distillery.

It’ll be a very special evening celebrating the music, poetry, and dance of Scotland and Ireland. Special entertainment will include The Irish Heritage Dancers and The Clan Donald Pipe Band as well as trivia, games, haggis, raffles, and much more. 

Dinner will include your choice of either salmon with dill sauce or Steak Stew Puff Pastry along with a baked potato and neeps (turnips), plus Scottish Shortbread and Tablet (sugary confection) for dessert. There will be an optional Scotch Tasting session beginning at 4pm. Tickets are on sale NOW through the church office (during business hours) or you can purchase them online below. There are only 150 tickets available, so don’t delay. Cheers! 

Event Ticket Prices: Dinner is $60 per person & Scotch Tasting is $25 per person

Purchase Tickets Online

Annual 2024 Congregational Meeting

Cheri Simonet
Congregational Meeting

February 18, 2024

Sunday, February 18th is an important day in the life of our congregation as we hold our Annual Congregational Meeting to review 2023 and look forward to plans and dreams for 2024.

The annual report, available in print and digitally by February 11, will include reports of committees, statistics, and financials including the approved budget for 2024. As a congregation we will vote on changes in the terms of call for our Pastor.

The meeting will take place immediately following the 10:00 am worship service in the Sanctuary, and all members are encouraged to attend. Please note that while our worship service will be livestreamed as usual, we apologize that we cannot livestream the Annual Meeting due to the confidentiality of certain portions of the meeting.

If you cannot be with us in person, feel free to contact any member of the Session with any questions or concerns you may have.

2024 Epiphany Sunday

Cheri Simonet
Epiphany

January 7th

“Epiphany” is a word meaning manifestation, revelation, or showing forth. At the Epiphany of the Lord (observed on the calendar on January 6th, or the Sunday closest to it) we celebrate the manifestation of God’s saving purposes to all the nations of the world.

Just as the Magi came from a distant land to worship the Christ child, God’s covenant of grace is extended to all people who believe the good news of Jesus Christ. In Epiphany, the symbolism of light is important—not only because of the star that guided the Magi, but also as it suggests the bright dawning of God’s self-revelation in Jesus Christ. As Christians, we are called to bear Christ’s light in the world.

Our liturgical color changes from the blue of Advent to white for Epiphany, and we focus our attention on images of light and the showing forth of the Messiah in our lives. One way to celebrate the season of Epiphany is to start out the new year with a “star word.” A star word is a random word that becomes a prayer guide, a focus, a way to watch for God. God can use anything to speak to us. There is nothing magical about a star word. But a star word begins as a mystery; typically you do not choose it. And so, it invites investigation, attentiveness, waiting. A star word orients you to watch for God in a particular way, to be receptive to the Spirit who is moving right now in the world around you.

On Sunday, January 7th our worship celebration of Epiphany will include the distribution of “star words” for everyone present. Come and see what word might guide you in 2024!

New 2024 Bible Study begins in January

Cheri Simonet

Channel Markers: Wisdom from the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount by William G. Enright is the title of a new Bible study beginning January 10th & 11th and continuing through the season of Lent.

Eleven weeks may feel like a long haul, but it is split into two distinct sections and as always, participants are welcome to come and go as needed.

We meet on Wednesday evenings via Zoom at 6:30p and Thursday mornings at 11a in person at the church.

Consider beginning this new year with a commitment to studying God’s Word!

Channel markers are the signs that help sailors navigate through shallow, potentially dangerous waters. Our quest to live as God’s people call us to listen for words of wisdom from such “channel markers”—for life is a journey with choices to be made, values to be pursued, and priorities to be set.

In this study, the author describes the Ten Commandments and Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as channel markers and offers new insights on these key pieces of scripture. Responding to our culture’s hunger for ethical guidance, he examines each commandment and the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount to explore why these texts are relevant today.

Books are available in the church office for $10 each. Please come join us!