Month: November 2023

The Season of Advent

Cheri Simonet
Advent

Join us as we prepare our hearts during this Advent season for the coming of Christ—Emmanuel, God With Us. Our Sundays will follow the ancient rhythm of Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love as we light candles on our Advent wreath and focus our attention on God’s promises for us.

The Psalm readings for this season invite us to see the brokenness of the world as it is, with a growing hunger crisis made worse by climate crisis and violent conflicts around the world that disrupt food systems, force migration, and disproportionately impact marginalized communities. The Psalms also remind us that we can trust in God’s promises of restoration of the world. We stand together in hope, peace, joy, and love to keep us grounded in these promises.

The four Sundays of Advent welcome us into prayer and reflection as we wait in anticipation for the One who brings hope, peace, joy, and love to this broken world.

May Christ’s light bring us on the path toward justice and righteousness for all.

In Our Church Library

Cheri Simonet
Hostage Bound Hostage Free Bookcover

From Mike Melton —

During a recent Christian Education meeting I offered to put in a recommendation for a good book someone might want to check out in our church library.  I was perusing the shelves when I saw it; Hostage Bound Hostage Free by Ben & Carol Weir.  I remember when I got my copy of this concise book back in the early nineties because I purchased it at a Presbytery meeting where the Weirs were speaking.  

If you’re not familiar with their story, Ben had been a Presbyterian pastor in Beirut, Lebanon for over thirty years but was kidnapped off the streets by Shiite extremists in front of his wife Carol on May 8th, 1984.  Ben was a captive for over a year and the book’s chapters alternate between Ben’s horrifying ordeal with his faith sustaining him and Carol’s increasingly more public campaign seeking government action for his release.  Just a modest couple in a whirlwind of madness. Now I see all the news of Hamas and Israel.  I hear the shock and despair in the victim’s voices.  We see people kidnapped and the tears of their families.  As Christians, we pray for all these suffering today knowing their stories are yet to be told, but we can read the Weir’s story now. I recommend you read it and pray that God gives us the heart to grow ever more compassionate.      

December 2023 Rundown

Cheri Simonet
Monthly Rundown

Church Chix Socials

The Chix had an amazing social in November when we dined at Luigi’s Italian Bistro. We had 11 Chix that attended. The waitress was phenomenal and the food was absolutely delicious! Our December social is planned for Thursday, December 7th at 6pm at Old Mexico Cantina & Grill located at 11884 Velp Avenue in Suamico. To RSVP there’s a sign up sheet on the bulletin board or email office@firstpresgreenbay.org.

Trunk-or-Treat was so Sweet!

We had 11 trunks participate in this year’s Trunk-or-Treat and Jane Bies kept count and said we had 200 kids! They were lined up and ready as soon as we opened our trunks at 4pm and kept right on coming until 5pm. Church provided hot chocolate to keep the trunk hosts warm. Michele Erickson came to the rescue of many of us who ran out of candy, as she had lots to share! Check out our photo Gallery!

Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
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Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023
Trunk-or-Treat 2023

Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner Celebration

We Gathered Together! Our joint service of thanksgiving was held on Saturday, November 18th at First United Presbyterian Church in De Pere. Sixteen voices in our combined choir shared a lovely seasonal anthem. The service was followed by a delicious turkey dinner for everyone present, and the dessert table was overflowing with treats from our congregation. Check out our photo gallery!

Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner
Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner
Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner
Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner
Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner
Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner
Thanksgiving Worship Service & Dinner

Rundowns will publish with our Connections issue on a monthly or bimonthly basis. To submit rundowns for consideration contact us at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org by the 15th of the month to be included in the following month’s publication. And, as always, we look forward to receiving your Rundown of what’s been Happening Now!

Worship Service November 26, 2023

Cheri Simonet

On this Thanksgiving Sunday, we’re pleased to have some members of our Confirmation class doing a reader’s theater skit in worship called “What We’re Thankful For.” Our scripture focus will be on Deuteronomy 8: 7-18 https://bit.ly/47ovwye and several different members of the church will offer reflections on gratitude in their own lives.

November 21, 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!

What year did the Trustees cease to exist?

A) 1956

B) 1935

C) 1970

Answer:

C) From the Annual Report of January 17, 1971. “Two major changes were made during the year 1970. (1) Session is now being conducted on the Unicameral system which combines the Elders and Trustees into one group, namely the Session. (2) Time changes in the Worship Services and Sunday School. There are now two morning Worship Services conducted at 8:30am and 10:30am and Sunday School for all ages, including adults, at 9:30am.”

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 November 19, 2023

Cheri Simonet

On this 25th Sunday after Pentecost, we continue our consideration of end-time themes here at the end of the church year with a focus on 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 https://bit.ly/3srLbxD. Pastor Katie will reflect on “Time in the Light.”

Worship Service November 12, 2023

Cheri Simonet

On this 24th Sunday after Pentecost, our reading Matthew 25: 1-13 https://bit.ly/3SsZ0GB will focus our attention on Jesus’ story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids as Pastor Katie reflects on “In the Meantime.”

November 7, 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!

When was construction on the existing sanctuary completed?

A) 1949

B) 1956

C) 1962

Answer:

B) From January 15, 1956 Annual Report: “While we began using our sanctuary last year, it was not entirely completed until this year. We began using the classrooms in the new wing as fast as the carpenters moved out of them, and have been happy in our expanded space and new furnishings. The parlor is the envy of half the churches in town. Mr. Halladay kept pushing here and there to get various things done and additional items we had not intended to include when we began our improvements kept calling for his attention. We owe to him a great debt of gratitude.”

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!