A new opportunity for adult enrichment and connection from the Christian Education Committee, the Fourth Sunday Faith Forum featured International Peacemaker Noemi Sanchez from El Salvador last month and will feature a representative from New Community Shelter this month.
Please join us on Sunday, October 22nd in the Fellowship Room from 9:00 to 9:45am for a presentation about the ministry and outreach of this social service organization just down the street from our church.
At our Advent Festival last year, we stuffed socks with personal care products for unsheltered people and our youth group delivered them to the shelter and got to tour the facility and hear a little more about what they do. Now they are coming to us to share their ministry!
Don’t miss this chance to learn about a ministry in our community.
The church year is NOT the same as a calendar year, but you may not notice it spread over the course of 12 months—when is Lent, why do we celebrate Epiphany, what comes after Pentecost?
For our worship service on Sunday, September 3th at 10am, we will attempt to sing our way through the whole church year with a few verses or a few hymns to represent each season. We’ll begin with Advent, move through Christmas and Epiphany, remind ourselves of Lent and Holy Week and Easter, then Pentecost, Trinity Sunday, All Saints’, and Christ the King.
It’s a LOT to squeeze into one service, but we think we can do it!
As it’s the first Sunday of the month, we will celebrate communion as well. Come join us for this hymn sing and perhaps learn a thing or two along the way. This service, planned by Pastor Katie and organist Matthew Thorne, will be our farewell to Matthew with deep thanks for his musical gifts and leadership over the summer.
“Back to school” sales are in full force and that means it is time for us all to come back to church after summer vacations and breaks! We celebrate the beginning of this new program year with a fun and casual outdoor worship on Sunday, September 10th at 10:00 am (weather permitting) on the front lawn. Bring your own chair or sit in one we’ve set up on the sidewalk—please don’t let navigating the grass keep you away.
Our worship service will feature a playful re-telling of the creation story and a special blessing of backpacks for all those headed back to school. If you are a student of any age, a teacher or administrator or helper in a school setting of any kind, please bring your backpack or other school bag on this day to receive a blessing including a special keychain to add to your bag. Let’s see how many backpacks and bags we can bless this year!
Following worship, we welcome everyone into the Fellowship Room for an ice cream social featuring dipped ice cream with all the toppings—plan to build your own sundae. This is a perfect day to bring a friend or neighbor or grandchild to worship, so please join us!
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
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.
Youth Group may have started their summer hiatus but why go the whole summer without seeing each other? Join us for our annual Youth Pool Party!
Bring your friends – the more the merrier!
Our hostess, Loni McCormick, invites all youth to her home on Thursday, July 20th from 1p till 4, 4:30p. Loni will provide the beverages, but youth are asked to bring a snack to share.
We’re hoping for a warm summer day to relax in or by the pool to have some fun, play some games, splash around and take time to reconnect over the summer. So, grab your sunglasses, swimsuit, pool toys and a snack to share and join the fun at Loni’s pool!
For questions please contact Loni at (920) 655-8258 or pmccormick1@new.rr.com or contact Joel Morien at (920) 437-8121 or email ce@firstpresgreenbay.org.
Join us on Sunday June 4th as we recognize during 10am worship this year’s high school graduate, Eric Sperduto, and award him a scholarship. The fellowship hour following worship will be a chance to congratulate Eric and continue the celebration.
Eric Sperduto, 2023 Graduate
Eric graduated May 31st from Pulaski High School and has plans to attend UW-Platteville where he’ll study Mechanical Engineering.
Eric has received:
Platteville Renewable Merit Scholarship
Butch Reimer Memorial Scholarship
Ray Nitschke Memorial Scholarship
Pulaski Education Association Scholarship
College Ready Scholarship
Mike and Jean Berken Mathematics Scholarship
Red Raiders Sports Boosters Scholarship
While in high school, Eric participated in football, wrestling, tennis, track and field, concert band, wind ensemble, marching band, pep band, served as Officer/Editor on the yearbook and was Senior Class President. Eric also received numerous academic honors throughout his high school years.
Eric’s favorite high school memory was his first game starting on varsity football.
CONGRATULATIONS, Eric! Blessings to you as you continue your journey beyond high school!
Congratulations College Graduates!
We extend our love and congratulations to the following graduates of higher education programs this spring:
Elizabeth Paag graduated from UW-Stevens Point with a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resources
Brandt Schoffelman graduated from Bradley University with an Engineering degree
Wyatt Stenson completed his Emergency Medical Technician certificate at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College
(If there are other higher education graduates that we missed, please send information to the church office at office@firstpresgreenbay.org)
Please join us for Virginia (Ginney) Amen’s Celebration of Life on Friday, June 9th from 9am till 11am at the Lyndahl Funeral Home located at 1350 Lombardi Avenue.
Ginney died on December 26, 2022 at Unity Hospice having suffered a fall earlier in December which resulted in a broken hip. She spent almost a week at Bellin Hospital and then was transferred to Unity Hospice in order to keep her comfortable during her final days.
Born June 9, 1919, Ginney was a member at First Presbyterian all her life, and influenced many people and programs of the church over her 103 years. Thanks be to God!
On what would have been Ginney’s 104th birthday, June 9, 2023, the family is having a celebration of her life from 10am to 11am. She will be buried next to her sister, Winifred, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Unity Hospice or First Presbyterian Church in her memory.
How do we tell the story of God’s grace and love—not just today, but for generations to come?
We have been blessed with many special gifts and estates over the years of our history in this church, and our endowment provides a great support to who we are and what we can do together in the kingdom.
We have set aside Sunday – May 7, 2023 as a time to focus our attention and intentions on legacy giving, from wills and bequests to life income plans that will benefit this church for generations to come.
The Rev. Kyle Nolan, a Ministry Relations Officer for the Presbyterian Foundation, will be with us on that day to preach and lead a workshop after the 10 am worship service offering tools to help us craft our faith legacy. He will cover topics including donor advised funds, charitable trusts, retirement accounts and more.
A luncheon will be served following the Fellowship coffee hour for all who wish to attend this workshop—please make your reservation by signing up on the bulletin board or calling the church office at (920) 437-8121 by May 4, 2023.
Thank you to all who helped make 2-4-2 @ the U happen! We served 22 kids plus workers and all were happy. The menu was homemade chili (vegetarian too!) with all the fixings along with wonderful desserts. The kids were appreciative about everything. Thank you again for your support!
Dear Souper Bowl Makers and Tasters
The Outreach Committee would like to extend a thank you to all for the Souper Bowl Sunday! The Pantry appreciates your gift and thanks to your contributions raised we’re giving each Pantry family a ham for Easter. Blessings to all who helped us succeed in giving our folks a beautiful Easter dinner!
