Category: General

June 2023 – Faith Facts:

Cheri Simonet
Faith Facts

Our Name that Member! feature gave us the opportunity to learn just how well we really know each other, our Did you know? Tuesday Trivia! shows us how well we know our church but we’re pleased to ask yet another question—How well do we know our faith?

Well, we’re excited to tell you that our newest newsletter feature is Faith Facts: which aims to tell us just how well we know our faith. Our June Faith Facts is courtesy of Russ Christensen. Thank you, Russ, for your contribution!

Are you ready to play?

QUESTION:

Why is our altar not against the wall where they are located in most other churches?
(choose one or more of the following answers)

A) When it was against the wall, it blended in too well; its seen better where it currently is.

B) When communion was being served it always had to be pulled out from the wall for the minister to stand behind it. Once, someone forgot to place it back against the wall and because it looked good where it was, it stayed there.

C) Prior to remodeling in the 1950’s it was underneath the choir/organ balcony and the minister did not stand behind it.

D) Both A & B

E) A, B and C

F) None of the above

F – None of the above
Presbyterian churches don’t have altars. Altars indicate a place of sacrifice. Though some denominations do have altars, Presbyterians do not. We believe Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and no others, or re-representations are needed. Presbyterians have a communion table as represented through Christ’s last supper. (Please stop calling it an altar….if you do.)

Did you guess correct, or did you learn something new?

Thanks for playing!

If you have Presbyterian faith facts to share, please contact Pastor Katie at kestes@firstpresgreenbay.org and become a contributor to an upcoming Faith Facts:

May 23, 2023 – Did you know?

Cheri Simonet
Did you know? Tuesday Trivia!

Our Name that Member! feature gave us the opportunity to learn just how well we really know each other. But how well do we know our church?

Here’s this week’s Did you know? Tuesday Trivia!

Prior to the year 2000, what’s the longest term a pastor has served dating back to 1876?

  • 12 years
  • 22 years
  • 16 years

Answer:

Between 1876 and 2000 the longest term a pastor has served was 16 years. Rev. Elmon Ward served as pastor from 1970 to 1986. Rev H.E. Easly served 11 years from 1919 to 1930 and Rev. H.W. Knox served 10 years from 1907-1917.

Thanks for playing!

We want you to do more than just play Did you know?, we’d also like you to contribute! If you have some church fun facts to share, please send those to Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and we’ll have your contribution added to an upcoming Did you know? Tuesday Trivia!

Worship Service May 21, 2023

Cheri Simonet

On this Seventh Sunday of Easter, our scriptures are Act 1:6-14 https://bit.ly/41T9MXG and Luke 11:1-13 https://bit.ly/3Ms5vF5. We recognize and show appreciation for our Christian Educators and Paster Katie’s reflection is “Who Taught You”. We welcome Jeff Verkuilen as our guest organist.

Worship Service May 14, 2023

Cheri Simonet

On this Sixth Sunday of Easter, we celebrate mothers and all who play a mothering role in our lives as we turn our attention to the gift of the Holy Spirit in John 14: 15-21 https://bit.ly/3LUWzHL and Pastor Katie’s reflection on “Anxiety and the Advocate.” We welcome a new substitute organist in Matthew Thorne.

May 9, 2023 – Did you know?

Cheri Simonet
Did you know? Tuesday Trivia!

Our Name that Member! feature gave us the opportunity to learn just how well we really know each other. But how well do we know our church?

Here’s this week’s Did you know? Tuesday Trivia!

How much money was set aside in 1900 for a horse and buggy?

  • $10
  • $30
  • $25

Answer:

Minutes of the Sael Society of Christian Endeavor dated January 18, 1900: “Moved and carried that we set aside $25.00 for horse and buggy, but that the amount be not taken from the general fund but that it be raised by the committee in some other way.”

And, if you remember our April 11th Did You Know? was that in 1898 (2 years earlier) the Pastor’s annual salary was $20. Wow! They pledged $25 for a horse and buggy in 1900 but in 1898 the Pastor’s annual salary was $20. And we think the price of eggs is a lot for our budget these days!

Thanks for playing!

We want you to do more than just play Did you know?, we’d also like you to contribute! If you have some church fun facts to share, please send those to Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and we’ll have your contribution added to an upcoming Did you know? Tuesday Trivia!

Worship Service May 7, 2023

Cheri Simonet

This Fifth Sunday of Easter is our Legacy Sunday this year, and we’re pleased to welcome The Rev. Kyle Nolan to our pulpit. He will focus on Acts 7: 55-60 https://bit.ly/3VxtoyQ with his message, “How To Bear Witness.” We also celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion this week.

Worship Service April 30, 2023

Cheri Simonet

On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, our CE Director, Joel Morien, brings the word to us from John 10: 1-10 https://bit.ly/3L88eTf with a message “If You Can Be Anything, Be Kind.”

We welcome Steve Warner from JOSHUA to present a Minute for Mission as well. We will receive a special offering to support our Emergency Assistance Fund, which provides help in the form of gas cards, rent and utility assistance and more to members and neighbors in need.

May, 2023 – Composing a Legacy Workshop

Cheri Simonet
Gestures of Generosity

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.

May 2023 Rundown

Cheri Simonet
Monthly Rundown

Ken Sann’s Installation

Six weeks after it was originally scheduled, the installation of Pastor Ken Sann at First Presbyterian Church of Wausaukee finally took place on Sunday April 23rd! The beautiful chapel’s sanctuary was full, the emotions were high, the food was plentiful and the pastor was duly installed. For this service of the Winnebago Presbytery, Pastor Katie preached the sermon and Nancy Siewert offered a charge to the congregation. Congratulations and blessings, Pastor Ken.

Gestures of Generosity, May 2023

Cheri Simonet
Gestures of Generosity

Thank you for your Gesture!

We are still basking in the glow of a spectacular Holy Week and Easter celebration, and it took a village to make it all happen. From Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday and Good Friday to Easter morning, we had worship, music, food, fellowship, scripture, prayer, and praise together.

We are grateful for the generosity of all who made it happen: Mary Steeno and Amy Wittman for leading the children’s choir, the folks who put together our second-annual Palm Sunday brunch, the Worship Committee who hosted dinner and foot-washing and a lovely Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, the faithful few who came on Good Friday to walk through meditation stations and consider the sacrifice of Jesus, Patcee Bucher and Jane Bies who picked up and arranged 42 pots of Easter flowers for display on Easter morning, Becky Christianson who made beautiful bows for each pot, all those who donated the flowers, Tom Schoffelman and Andy Parks who pulled together our Easter choir, and all who sang. Thanks be to God for each one!

If you have a Gestures of Generosity story to share, please contact Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and tell us your story.