On this first day of Holy Week, Palm Sunday, we enjoyed our children’s choir performance of “March On, Little Donkey” and Pastor Katie’s sermon spoke to “Who is this?” The celebration of communion continues, and we reflect on readings from Psalm 118: 1-2, 19-29 http://bit.ly/41fvGVl and Matthew 21: 1-11 http://bit.ly/3M80HWO. Special thanks to our guest organist Micah Zuelke and our reader, Kirke Ryder.
Category: General
Worship Service March 26, 2023
On this Fifth Sunday in Lent we look forward to “God So Loved the World” from a vocal quartet, the celebration of communion by intinction, and reflecting on the parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14: 15-24 http://bit.ly/3ltzmUb. Pastor Katie will help us remember to “R.S.V.P.” for Palm Sunday brunch so you should certainly plan to be here or join us online for worship!
April 2023 Rundown
2—4—2 @ the U
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!
Ken Sann 2023 Installation Services
Wausaukee Installation Service
You are cordially invited to attend a Service of Installation for Ken Sann at his church in Wausaukee on Sunday, April 23 at 3:00 p.m. Just like the ordination, this is a service conducted by Winnebago Presbytery, with ministers and elders appointed to the commission. The church will serve a dinner reception following the service. Please let Pastor Katie know if you’d like to ride along with her and attend.
Althestane Installation Service
With more than 100 people in attendance on Sunday afternoon, March 26 in Althestane, the Installation of Ken Sann to the Ministry of Word of Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) was a grand celebration! The Presbytery of Winnebago turned out in full force with ministers and members from across the region. Special thanks to all who helped put on such a great reception following the worship service.
Composing a Legacy Luncheon Workshop
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.
But what does our call to discipleship say about how we follow Jesus now in our lifetimes and later, after we die?
The Generosity Team is pleased to offer a special luncheon conversation and workshop called “Composing A Legacy” on Sunday, May 7th with Rev. Kyle Nolan, area representative with the Presbyterian Foundation.
This workshop is appropriate for all adults, whether you are thinking about your legacy yet or not! Kyle will provide resources and ideas for how our gifts can impact the ministry of our congregation today and in years to come. Sign up on the bulletin board or call the church office to make your reservation.
Gestures of Generosity, April 2023
Thank you for your Gesture!
Sometimes the needs are not as focused on monetary donations but on caring people power. A member of our congregation was recently informed that she had to leave her apartment after 29 years of living there, and we all know that moving is a very stressful situation.
Through our Deacons, the word went out that this person needed our help. We were able to set up teams of two and three people at a time to go in and help with sorting, packing and the actual move.
Our deep gratitude goes to Judy Knutzen-Nerad, Judy Exl, Jacki Jensen, Lisa & Dave Solper, Nancy & Dennis Siewert, Becky Christianson, Lyn Early, Linda Christensen, and Pat McCormick for answering this call. Your gestures of generosity are much appreciated!
If you have a Gestures of Generosity story to share, please contact Cheri at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org and tell us your story.
Augusta Jeffrey 2023 Awardee
The Augusta Jeffrey Award was established in 2004 by the family of Augusta Jeffrey to recognize a member of First Presbyterian Church for outstanding volunteer efforts and service in our church. Areas of service may include: Mission, Worship, Member Care, Christian Education, Administration, and Evangelism. Nominations are gathered in the month of February every year and the recipient is chosen in March. The recipient receives a gift of $600 from the fund established by the Jeffrey family that is allocated to an area in the church chosen by the awardee.
On Sunday March 19, the 2022 Augusta Jeffrey Award was presented to Donna Jansen. She has been an exemplary volunteer over the years of her church membership, including serving as Elder, Deacon, Sunday School teacher, Reader, Chair of the Spring Craft Bazaar and Christmas Bazaar, President of the Women’s Circle, Crib Room Coordinator, and more.
Donna was an active member of Martha Circle and Esther Circle, represented our church on the CoCare Neighborhood Association Board of Directors for the Fort Howard Apartment Complex, and helped out with their rummage sales, participated in neighborhood walks in the community to invite and inform neighbors about First Presbyterian Church.
In more recent years Donna has remained active volunteering our Presbyterian Pantry, 2 for 2 at the U (UWGB Outreach meal), as chair of the Funeral Committee, and collecting travel-size hygiene and toiletry items for shelter residents.
Congratulations, Donna!
Fifth Sunday Emergency Assistance Offering
We have a long tradition of helping our neighbors in need from a special fund on our accounts known as the Pastor’s Discretionary or Emergency Assistance Fund. This fund supports requests for an occasional gas card, partial rental payments, electric bills, or other emergency situations. It has been our practice that a person can receive assistance from this fund just one time each calendar year. We sometimes get referrals from nearby helping agencies, and other times simply have people walk in without any referral. The names and situations are kept confidential, and have been offered to both members and non-members alike. What we have not had, in recent years, is a regular way to replenish the fund as it gets used. To this end, we have decided that we will receive a special offering in each month where there are five Sundays, on that fifth week, to keep this assistance available.
Sunday April 30th will be our first opportunity to invite members and friends to contribute toward this important part of our ministry. Please mark your calendar and plan to participate that day, or you may contribute at any time by marking your check or online gift for “emergency assistance.”
Thank you!
March 20, 2023 – Name that Member BIG REVEAL!
Earlier this week we featured our Monday Member Spotlight Name that Member! through email and on our social media and now it’s time for the BIG REVEAL! In case you missed it, here’s our Member’s story:
- I was born and raised in Green Bay.
- Some of my favorite childhood memories come from time spent up north with my cousins.
- I am the youngest of two siblings.
- I am currently married with three kids and two grandkids.
- My favorite thing to do is spend time with my family watching my kids participate in their activities, relaxing up north, and traveling.
- I love the sense of community in our church. It is such a welcoming environment. Coming to church feels like being at home.
- I have been a member of our church my entire life. I was baptized, confirmed, and married in our church.
- Some of my best vacation memories revolve around a cruise taken with extended family in 2018. Lots of laughs were had!
- I am very passionate about anything that is important to me. When I am doing something, I love to give it my all.
- I had a role in the movie Ed Gein: The Musical. I played a patient in the crazy house (some days, that seems appropriate!). It was a locally filmed, independent movie, and I had the greatest time during shooting!
- In my spare time, I love baking, but oddly enough, I don’t eat much of what I bake. My family and coworkers are usually the benefactors!
- I love dance, and I have been a dance teacher for the past 26 years.
- I am currently working towards my black belt in karate after years of being badgered by one of my kids to start. I loved doing karate so much, I also became an instructor.
Who am I?
Do you give up?
I’m Jill Stenson!
Were you stumped? Or, did you learn something new about Jill?
Tell us your story! Complete our Name that Member Form or email csimonet@firstpresgreenbay.org so you can be featured in an upcoming Monday Member Spotlight of Name that Member!
We’re officially COOL! We text now!
Surprise, we can text now! We’re officially COOL!
If you’re a church member and we have your mobile number in our Online Directory,
You’re signed up to receive text messages!
Here’s how it works:
- When our first message is sent to Members, you’ll also receive a welcome message to let you know that you’ve been opted-in to receive text messages from us.
- If you’d rather not receive future messages, simply reply STOP and you’ll be opted-out.
- You can opt-out of our text messages at any time.
And,
- You have our commitment that we WILL respect your text message box.
- Members will ONLY receive relevant, church related, time-sensitive communication from us.
You’ll only receive text messages if your mobile number is in our Online Church Directory. If we don’t have your mobile number but you’d like to receive text message reminders and alerts, please forward your mobile number to office@firstpresgreenbay.org and we’ll have it added to our text list. Not sure if it’s in there? Check the Online Church Directory. If it’s not there you can add it in yourself or simply email us and we’ll take care of it for you!
If you’d like to receive text messages but would rather not have your mobile number in the Directory, no problem! You can still receive our text messages even if you’d rather not publish your mobile number for other members to see. Just let us know that you’d like your mobile number private but that you’d still like to receive text messages and we’ll set you up.
More details about our text program:
What you need to know:
- The maximum text messages you’ll receive from us each month is 3-4 (if any)
- All messages will be church related, relevant and time sensitive in nature
- If there’s nothing to communicate during any given month, then you won’t hear from us
- Once we opt you in, you can opt out at anytime
What we WON’T DO:
- We WON’T send reminders about when worship is (we assume you know that!)
- We WON’T remind you of communion days (we assume you know that, too!)
- We WON’T send reminders about when Pantry days occur
- We WON’T text you outside of 8am to 9pm
- We WON’T clutter your message inbox with irrelevant messages
- We WON’T disrespect your message inbox
What we WILL DO:
- Above all we give you our promise that we WILL respect your message inbox!
- We WILL only send relevant, church related, time sensitive messages such as weather alerts that might cause cancellations or reminders of important events about to happen
