On this Fifth Sunday of Easter, we welcome Ellen Smith to the pulpit who’ll preach on “Finding Our Way”. Our Gospel is Matthew 18: 21-22 https://bit.ly/3W9HXv7 and special music is provided by Teresa Schoffelman on the flute and Michael Raught on the organ.
Month: April 2024
Pentecost – Youth Sunday
Sunday, May 19th
The Festival of Pentecost is probably the least-known of all the church holy days. It occurs 50 days after Easter, marking the arrival of the promised Holy Spirit. It’s the official birthday of the Church, the time when the disciples and others understood their charge to go out and preach, teach, heal, and make disciples of all nations.
This Pentecost, Sunday May 19th, our youth will lead our 10am worship service, preaching and teaching just as the disciples did after Jesus’ resurrection. It’s an opportunity for our youth to let their talents and abilities shine. During the service, they showcase their gifts in a number of ways from performing the readings to giving the sermon. In collaboration with the worship committee, the youth are hard at work preparing the details of which youth will do the various responsibilities within worship. As a group they will choose the prayers and music that fits Pentecost Sunday and also the accompaniment of the music that’s selected. The steps in preparation of, and the actual worship service is a spiritual experience that draws each youth closer to their faith.
Following worship, we hope you’ll join us in fellowship hour where you’ll have the opportunity to thank the youth for all their efforts in taking the lead during worship on this Day of Pentecost.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
The PC(USA) Store has resources for children and adults.
For information on mental illness contact the National Alliance on Mental Illness. NAMI provides advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives.
The NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10am – 10pm, ET.
Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text “HelpLine” to 62640 or email at helpline@nami.org.
In an emergency dial 911. Ask the operator for police officers trained in crisis intervention or trained to assist people experiencing a psychiatric emergency.
988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline – 24/7 free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. Dial or text 988.
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741-741
Connect with a trained crisis counselor to receive free, 24/7 crisis support via text message.
Letter Carriers Food Drive 2024
The Letter Carriers food drive is on Saturday – May 11, 2024. We need to supply two individuals to help out at the Cofrin post office that day (this is very important, as if we don’t provide people, we will not be able to participate in the food drive next year).
Volunteers are needed at 9:00am and will be given a route to pick up food on. Stephanie Fahringer and Al Smith will be loading the bags into totes but we could really use donations of paper shopping bags, preferably with handles.
We are also in need of four people to help at church at 3:00pm that day by unloading, sorting, and putting away the food that our Presbyterian Pantry receives.
Please contact Gene Stenson at 920-241-4370 if you are able to help. Thank you for your support!
Christian Educator Appreciation Sunday 2024
Mark your calendars for Sunday, May 19th when we’ll show appreciation for our amazing Christian Educators during our 10am worship service.
On that morning, we’ll be recognizing those who have organized, led or taught various educational programs and activities for children, youth and adults through the 2023/2024 program year including Sunday School, Bible studies, devotionals and Vacation Bible School. Faith development was only possible by the following members volunteering and giving of their time, talent, and treasures, so we extend a heartfelt thank you to:
- Brenda Hubbard
- Lisa Olson
- Sara Bostedt
- Loni McCormick
- Deb Gauthier
- Stacy Bostedt
- Olivia Crooks
- Jessica Gauthier
- Mike Melton
- Grace Estes Collins
- Bobbi Holl
- Joel Morien
- Katie Estes
These outstanding members were instrumental in cultivating and building faith which supports our efforts to achieve our mission of Inspiring All to Love and Serve with Christ.
Please join us as we celebrate and thank these leading Christian Educators who’ve made such a positive impact with the children, youth and adults in our community of faith.
Batter Up!
It’s that time of year when we prepare for our return to the field with our #FirstPresGB co-ed softball team. The season gets underway in May and ends with playoffs at the season end in late summer. The schedule will be released soon so stay tuned for that, but we’ll be playing at the same field we’ve been at for the last seven years, Cornerstone in DePere. Our time of play will vary with each game on Sundays at 4:15, 5:45 or 6:30pm.
Men, women and youth age 14 and older are welcome to join the team! Practices are primarily getting together before game time and when it comes to the playing schedule matching up with your schedule, you play ball when you’re able to play ball. No commitment required.
If you’re not up for joining the team, volunteer field and plate umpires are always needed. No experience required. You just need to say – “you’re out”, “you’re safe”, “ball” or “strike”. It’s that easy!
So, mark your calendars for Sundays this summer to play, cheerlead or umpire our softball games. It’s a night of fun, fellowship and a little bit of exercise that you don’t want to miss out on!
For more information or to sign up to batter up or umpire contact George Hubbard by calling or texting (920) 680-1421 or email georgeahubbard@yahoo.com. See you at the ballpark!
May 2024 Rundown
Church Chix Socials
The Chix unfortunately were unable to gather on April 4th because the snowstorm two days prior on April 2nd knocked the power out at the restaurant and they were still in the dark waiting for their power to return. So the plan for the May gathering is to try it again in the hopes that their won’t be any more snowstorms and the power will be on this time. We’ll gather Thursday, May 2nd at 6pm where we were supposed to gather in April at Narrow Bridge Plate + Pour located on the West side of town at 2840 Shawano Avenue. To RSVP there’s a sign up sheet on the bulletin board or email office@firstpresgreenbay.org.
April Fourth Sunday Forum
On Sunday April 28th we wrapped up our program year with our final Fourth Sunday Forum. We were fortunate to have Ellen Smith speak, a member of our congregation and long-time mission co-worker for the PC(USA) to Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, and Poland. Ellen’s presentation “Seeking Hope From the Margins” provided an update on her recent travels and what they prompt her to pray and think about.
Henry Holl’s Baptism
On April 21st Henry Holl received the sacrament of baptism. Baptism is one of just two sacraments in our Presbyterian tradition and is always a blessing as we welcome a new person into the family of God. Henry’s loving big brother, Peter, stood with proud parents Bobbi and David along with extended family and friends for this special occasion. Check out our photo gallery!
Augusta Jeffrey 2024 Awarded
On April 21st we presented Becky Christiansen with the 2024 Augusta Jeffrey Award. She was nominated by several Session members who noted her exemplary service as Clerk of Session for the last two years. While much of her volunteer work is behind the scenes and not visible to the whole congregation, we all benefit greatly from her commitment and diligence. Thank you, Becky!
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!
April 23, 2024 – Did you know?
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!
In what year was the 2nd building demolished and a new one erected?
A) 1925
B) 1900
C) 1910
Answer:
A) Under the leadership of Rev. E.H. Easely, the old building was razed and a new one erected. This structure was built at a cost of $50,000 and was dedicated on April 19, 1925.
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 April 21, 2024
On this Fourth Sunday of Easter, we are thrilled to baptize Henry David Holl and to recognize Becky Christianson with the Augusta Jeffery award for this year. We also welcome the Rev. Dr. Deb DeMeester to our pulpit, who will focus on John 10: 11-18 https://bit.ly/3Qb6Oe3 with her sermon “Imagining Our Faith”. Deb is the Director of Leadership Development for the Synod of Lakes and Prairies.
Worship Service April 14, 2024
On this Third Sunday of Easter, we look forward to special music provided by the Griffon String Quartet and our own Kris Melton on piano. Our Easter journey continues in Luke 24: 36-48 https://bit.ly/3vMNgpm, with Pastor Katie’s message “Feeling All the Feels”.
