Our Christian Education Committee is excited to announce the launch of a new program for adults that we’re calling Fourth Sunday Faith Forum. This is a direct result of input received on our congregational survey last spring, which indicated a desire for more adult education opportunities. This gathering will feature a special speaker or a special topic led by a member of our congregation. On the fourth Sunday of each month, the committee intends to offer a forum from 9:00 to 9:45 am in the Fellowship Room. We hope to welcome lots of participants to this new opportunity for growth in faith and knowledge.
We kick off this new program with a speaker all the way from El Salvador, Noemi Sanchez. Noemi works for the Calvinist Reformed Church of El Salvador and is with us as part of the International Peacemakers program of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Her denomination works closely with the PC(USA) in sustainable agriculture and innovative farming practices, school and community support, and migration issues in her country, which is the most densely populated country in Central America. We are honored to host her for the first part of her visit to Winnebago Presbytery and hope to have a big turn-out on September 24 to hear her presentation about ministry in El Salvador.
Noemí Sánchez
More about Noemí
Abdias Noemí Iglesias Sánchez has been a member of the Calvinist Reformed Church of El Salvador (IRCES) for approximately 30 years, as part of the youth group and now as a member of the IRCES Board of Directors. Through the IRCES Board of Directors, Noemí is the primary representative, ensuring the implementation of General Assembly agreements as well as the community and pastoral work of the IRCES’s strategic plan.
In youth ministry, she attended various youth camps as well as workshops on building a culture of peace. She studied Business Administration from the University of El Salvador, and has put her faith and skills into practice by assisting IRCES colleagues in coordinating youth workshops and community activities promoting peace and teaching peaceful inter-personal skills.
Married 16 years with 2 children, family is one of the most important parts of Noemí’s life.
Watch this short introduction video and hear Noemí’s story in her own words
Theology for Presbyterians is the title of the new Bible study for adults which begins Wednesday, September 13th at 6:30 pm on Zoom and Thursday September 14th at 11:00 am in person.
This study focuses on what the Reformed and Presbyterian traditions have believed in the past and ways key theological understandings matter in our Christian lives in the church today.
In this six-week study we will move through the major theological questions of what Presbyterians understand about the Bible, God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and the Future.
Books are available for purchase from Pastor Katie for $10. All are welcome!
Welcome back to our middle school and high school youth after a long hot summer!
In Confirmation Class, intended for students in 8th grade or higher, Pastor Katie and CE Director Joel review Bible basics, Presbyterian traditions, and lead in discussion about where and how we experience God and Christ and faith in life today. We will meet on Sundays following worship beginning September 17th.
Please contact Pastor Katie if your youth is ready to participate in Confirmation this fall.
Youth group meets each Wednesday night beginning September 13 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. and is led by Loni McCormick, Bobbi Holl, and CE Director Joel Morien. These informal gatherings are a chance to connect with others and discuss a wide range of topics relating to our daily lives and our faith. We also have a number of service and fellowship events planned:
Packing meals for Feed My Starving Children in early October
A possible weekend retreat at Daycholah camp in November
An overnight at church in December to wrap gifts for our Prayer Basket families
It’s back-to-school and back to Sunday School, too!
Sunday school class for preschool through fifth grade children begins on Sunday, September 17th. We leave the worship service at the conclusion of the children’s message and head upstairs to rooms 204/206 for a Bible story, lesson, craft or project, and prayer. All are welcome—bring a friend along!
This fall we are using a brand new curriculum from Illustrated Ministry that is based on the lectionary, the same scriptures we will hear in worship most weeks. The lessons feature a brief video Bible story, discussion and sharing, a coloring sheet and more. Easy to teach and easy to adjust for the ages and size of group, we are excited to try this new program. If you might be willing to teach a week or a month or more, please contact Joel Morien at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org or call (920) 437-8121.
Are you ready to have some fun, and make a difference at the same time?
Then plan to volunteer for the 2023 Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event in Green Bay!
The MobilePack will be held Monday, October 2nd through Thursday, October 5th. This year’s event will continue to be held at Green Bay Community Church, and is open to everyone – young and old alike.
There are 8 different packing shifts to volunteer and we have reservations for our congregation on the 6 shifts which are indicated below.
Registration opened Sunday, August 27th. The FMSC registration sign up sheet can be found in the office during the week and in the back of the sanctuary on Sunday or Register Online. Spots fill quickly! Register early to get your desired time.
If you’re unable to register online or visit church to register in person, please contact us at office@firstpresgreenbay.org or call (920) 437-8121 with the day and time you’d like to sign up for and we’ll take care of the registration for you.
If you haven’t packed or volunteered before, this is the year to see what all the excitement is about. Please consider helping in this great cause. For more information or questions, please contact Kirke Ryder at kirke.ryder@gmail.com.
And, please prayerfully consider a donation to FMSC through our church. Simply select FMSC in the drop down menu in Give Now section of our website or note FMSC on your check.
For every person packing we’re hoping to receive a $60 donation.
Please help us reach our goal of $60/packer.
Why are we looking for a $60 donation for every packer from our congregation?
To pack a half million meals (500,000) we have to raise $145,000 because every meal we pack is at the cost of 29 cents each. If everyone who came to pack had someone donate $60 on their behalf, we’d cover the cost of the food purchased that a volunteer is going to pack. Without that donation we rely 100% on fundraisers and despite the number of fundraisers we have, there’s always a shortfall to cover the cost of the food that we’re packing. Please consider sponsoring one of our First Presbyterian volunteer packers and donate $60 to cover the cost for what they’ll be packing.
Join us on Thursday, August 10th for a night at Capital Credit Union Park when the Green Bay Rockers hit the ballpark to benefit Feed My Starving Children!
The cost is $15 per ticket with Hat Fundraiser. For each ticket purchased, $4 will go back to Feed My Starving Children.
Gates open at 5:35pm and the first pitch is at 6:35pm. Download the flyer below and scan the QR code to purchase tickets or visit https://greenbayrockers.com –> Buy Tickets –> Promotions –> Enter Promo Code: FMSC.
August 1-31 are the dates for our annual Tank Back to School supply drive! Tank Elementary School is one of the most ethnically diverse and needy schools in the Green Bay public school district. Our church has “adopted” Tank and has a long history of supporting and interacting with the school and students.
Every child should have new pencils, crayons, glue, etc. for school. The electronic list of supplies can be found at Tank School Supply List or copies are on the table in the narthex. You can also download a printable copy.
There will be a table at the back of the Sanctuary to deposit your donations when you are here on Sundays, or any other day Monday – Thursday 9:30 am to 2:00 p.m. through August 31.
We can also shop for you if you’d prefer – checks should have the notation BTS supplies and if online, choose the “other” fund and note BTS.
Thank you to everyone for supporting our July Brat Fry when we raised $645.40!
We need your help to make our August Brat Fry just as successful!
Please consider volunteering to serve or cashier on Sunday, August 13th at Festival in Bellevue which will be hosted by the Outreach Committee. Proceeds from the August brat fry will benefit the Pantry.
There are two volunteer shifts to choose from:
9am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm
If you can help out as a volunteer sign up sheets are on the bulletin board or contact Kevin Kabacinski at 920-619-4458.
And, as a thank you bonus, all volunteers receive a FREE brat. Now, there’s nothing better than that!
We’re hoping for good weather, hungry customers and outstanding volunteers to feed them.
“There are varieties of gifts, but it is the same Spirit who gives them. There are different ways of serving God, but it is the same Lord who is served…Together we are the body of Christ, and individually members of it.”
These words, taken from the service of ordination and installation in the PC(USA), are a reminder of our calling to service in the church. This is the time of year when our Deacons and Elders complete terms of service and begin new ones.
With many thanks to outgoingDeacons Sara Bostedt, Judy Exl, Jackie Jensen, Melissa Peters and Lisa Solper and outgoingElders Ross Early and Pat McCormick, we are pleased to welcome new Deacons Gifty Berko, Olivia Crooks, George Hubbard and Sue Russell, as well as new Elders Fritzi Mevis and Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges to service! Joining them are returning Elder David Anderson. They have each served in various ministries prior to this term and bring a wealth of experience to their roles. The Session has set the date of Sunday July 16, 2023 for their ordination and installation in worship and they begin their service officially at the scheduled July meetings of the respective boards. Please take a minute to thank them all for their willingness to serve and keep them in your prayers as they lead us.
UCCI youth camps take place at Daycholah Center on Green Lake. Week-long youth camps for those in Pre-K through 12th grade run from Sunday through Friday. Activities and adventures include traditional camp activities like campfires, time in/on the water, arts and crafts, games, and delicious meals. Each week of programming also sets aside some time to explore the unique and special interests of the individual. Our team is ready to answer your questions and help you with registration. Email us at daycholahcenter@ucci.org.
Program Descriptions and Ages:
& Me is a shorter camp experience for young campers along with an adult they love. K-2nd graders are welcome to bring their special adult and spend time doing their favorite camp activities. There will be swimming, kayaking, arts & crafts, archery and more! Recognizing that all children develop at their own pace, there is a session for preschoolers (ages 4-6) and a “One More Time” session for 3rd-4th graders. Programming is planned by age and allows for plenty of one-on-one and exploration time.
Tenderfoot is for young, overnight campers. This 4-day, 3-night camp introduces campers to all thefun activities at camp: swimming, boating, archery, crawfishing, arts & crafts, and an early morning favorite–the polar bear swim. This is a great experience for campers who are not ready to take on a full week but want to experience cabin life for the first time! Grades 2-3
NEW! DC Elements Summer Camp Join us for the timeless, all-around adventure of summer camp! Enjoy a week of swimming, boating, target sports, campfires, singing camp songs, all-camp evening programs, arts & crafts, sleeping in cabins, games, and cooking over the fire. Campers will be grouped by age. Young campers will focus on building friendships, connecting with nature, and having fun! Older campers will do the same while working together to plan their daily activities. The theme for DC Elements will be based on “The Fruits of the Spirit” curriculum. Grades 3-12
Enthusiasts can go deep into a special interest and activity. Con, Night Owl, and Sailing, each offer an immersive experience along with traditional camp activities. Detailed descriptions can be found on our website. Grades 7-12
Juniors in Leadership develop group dynamics as well as problem-solving and camping skills found in future staff. Campers spend one week learning and another week volunteering. Ages 17-18
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!
For more information, contact our Director of Children, Youth, and Families, Joel Morien, by calling (920) 437-8121 or email ce@firstpresgreenbay.org.
