Synod School 2024

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!

Souper Bowl of Caring 2024

Souper Bowl of Caring

February 11, 2024

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches that means it’s time for our annual Souper Bowl of Caring which takes place on Sunday, February 11th, following our 10am worship service in Banner Hall.

Since 1990, close to $193 million has been reported donated to local food charities across all fifty states with over 305,000 unique groups participating. Every dollar donated to Souper Bowl of Caring creates over $18 for food charities. The cause unites all communities to Tackle Hunger.

Our #FirstPresGB Souper Bowl of Caring is led by the Christian Education Committee along with Youth Group and is held annually on Super Bowl Sunday. The event is meant to bring an awareness to hunger and to curb hunger through soup. The cost will be $5 per person and there will be 8 different soup stations for people to experience. Each soup sampler will have a chance to vote and judge our Souper Bowl winner. Proceeds from the event will go toward the Presbyterian Pantry.

We invite each person to bring a muffin tin to hold the soup samples. (One muffin tin per person.) Disposable cups will be available to place in your muffin tin to avoid the mess that we experienced last year. You will be required to try all the soups but you can only vote for one. The Souper Bowl awardee will receive the cherished Golden Ladle that’s passed on year after year to the awarded winner. The current Golden Ladle holder from our 2023 Souper Bowl of Caring is Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges for her Christmas Corn Chowder.

There’s no need to sign up—ALL are welcome—we hope to see you there!

Save-the-Date for Souper Bowl of Caring 2024

Souper Bowl of Caring

Souper Bowl of Caring—February 11, 2024

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches that means it’s time for our 2nd annual Souper Bowl of Caring!

Since 1990, close to $193 million has been reported donated to local food charities across all fifty states with over 305,000 unique groups participating. Every dollar donated to Souper Bowl of Caring creates over $18 for food charities. The cause unites all communities to Tackle Hunger.

Our #FirstPresGB Souper Bowl of Caring is led by the Christian Education Committee along with Youth Group and is held annually on Super Bowl Sunday. The event is meant to bring an awareness to hunger and to curb hunger through soup. The cost will be $5/person and there will be 8 different soup stations for people to experience. Each soup sampler will have a chance to vote and judge our Souper Bowl winner. The awardee will receive the cherished Golden Ladle that’s passed on year over year to the awarded winner. The current Golden Ladle holder from our 2022 Souper Bowl of Caring is Georjeanna Wilson-Doenges for her Christmas Corn Chowder.

More details will follow in February’s newsletter but in the meantime, we’re looking for 8 soup chefs to help us pull this off! All you need to do is craft a crock pot full of your favorite soup.

If you’re able to be one of our 8 soup chefs, please contact Director of Children, Youth and Families, Joel Morien, at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org or sign up on the bulletin board.

2023 Advent Workshop

Advent Workshop

Sunday, December 3rd

“Advent” means coming or arrival. Rather than just waiting for Christmas to get here, we use the season of Advent to prepare for Christ’s coming. Advent begins this year on Sunday, December 3rd and we will kick off the season with our annual Advent workshop following worship.

Open to all ages, this event will feature crafts, activities, and Kevin’s famous chili lunch. Brenda has designed some great crafts once again, including a beautiful coaster suitable for gift-giving and an Ugly Christmas Sweater ornament. New this year is the option to decorate an Advent Yule Log for your home. And of course, as always, we’ll have Loni’s cut-out cookies to decorate (and eat!).

Returning this year is our Socks of Love project that was initiated last year. Filling a sock for persons in our community who are experiencing homelessness is one way to show our love and share our bounty with neighbors in need. Each pair of warm wool socks is filled with travel-size toiletries and other necessities for those who struggle with basic needs. Last year we filled 48 socks—this year can we do more? Our socks will go to St John’s shelter.

Please join us for this all-church celebration.

Youth Group 2023 Lock-in

Youth Group

It’s time once again for our Annual Youth Group Lock-in! This annual tradition started many, many years ago with the task of wrapping Christmas gifts for Tank Elementary School families that our church adopts for Christmas each year.

Christmas Baskets

The Christmas Prayer Basket campaign, supported by the Outreach Committee, selects three families to adopt each year from nearby Tank Elementary School. We obtain wish lists for the children and adults in each family and those wishes are placed in three separate baskets on the table in the back of the Narthex. Congregation members select from the tags and return gifts unwrapped to the church by Thursday, December 14th. And the following night of the 15th is when our Youth Group gathers in the Memorial Room to wrap the dozens on dozens of presents generously donated by our members.

Although the primary purpose for the youth getting together is to wrap all those presents, the larger picture is having our youth connect with the local community and with those who’re less fortunate than us. Our youth focus on seeing those who are sometimes forgotten and unseen during the busy hustle and bustle of the Holiday season. The lock-in is the fun part of it but moreover youth draw a connection to how fortunate we are to be blessed in so many ways. It’s easy to take for granted our blessings and there’s no better time of year than Christmas to reflect, remember and give thanks for all those blessings.

We gather at 6:30 on Friday, December 15th to wrap, retire to the youth group room for our sleepover and return home the following morning after breakfast. It’s a memorable and rewarding experience for all who participate. If you’d like to know more or get involved in this year’s lock-in, please contact Joel Morien at ce@firstpresgreenbay.org. And thank you to all our members who will generously donate those gifts for the youth to wrap!

Annual 2024 Ski Trip

Annual Ski Trip

The snow has begun to fly so the time has come to have some fun on the slopes at our annual Ski Trip! This year we’ll once again be joined by our friends from First United Presbyterian Church of DePere.

And, although primarily coordinated with Youth Group, the ski trip is considered a family event so all are welcome to join!

Our ski destination is Ski Brule and we’ll be checking in on Friday, January 26th, checking out Saturday, January 27th at the Chicaugon Lake Inn

We will need a minimum of 20 skiers to take advantage of the Ski Brule group discount so spread the word to family, friends and neighbors. The more the merrier!

We hope to see you on the slopes!

Outdoor Worship and Ice Cream Social

Outdoor Worship

September 10, 2023

“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!

Confirmation Class and Youth Group are Back

Youth Group
Confirmation

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

Ski trip in January

and more!

United Church Camps Outdoor Ministry—2023 Summer Youth Camps

United Church Camps logo

July 2nd thru August 16th

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.

Check out the camp schedule dates below!

United Church 2023 Summer Camps

2023 Youth Pool Party

Pool Party July 20, 2023

Calling all #FirstPresGB Youth!

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.

We hope to see you poolside!