Category: General

How we can help people in Ukraine

Cheri Simonet
Pray for Ukraine

Resources from Presbyterian Mission

It is evident that the situation unfolding in Ukraine is rapid and everchanging. With the war shifting, many Ukrainian families have been forced to flee their homes in order to maintain their safety. With news outlets frequently reporting about the crisis, you may find yourself wondering what you can do to help those affected.

Here’s what Presbyterian Mission, a division of Presbyterian Church USA, says you can do:

GIVE

Donations can be made by calling (800) 872-3283, by texting “PDAUKR” to 41444, online at https://pma.pcusa.org/donate/make-a-gift/gift-info/DR000156/ or by check made payable to Presbyterian Church USA with “DR000156-Ukraine” on the memo line mailed to:

Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
P.O. Box 643700
Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700

ACT

Download the Bulletin Insert and spread the word. You can also urge the U.S. government to support generous aid for refugees and civilians suffering in Ukraine, and call for engaging a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

PRAY

“May we undergird our prayers with tangible resources to help.
May we reach deeply, give generously, and welcome extravagantly.
May we lift our voices in a strong and unified advocacy.
May we all, even as we breathe in lament, breathe out mercy, hope and peace.
And in this Lenten season, when we walk the way toward death and resurrection, repent our complicity in cultures of violence and renew our efforts toward justice and peace.”

— Rev. Dr. Laurie Kraus, Director, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

Memorial Service for Bob Nickel

Cheri Simonet
Celebration of Life

Join us on Friday, March 25 for the memorial service for Robert Nickel, Director of Music at our church for the past five years.

Mary and her family will receive guests from noon until 1:45; the service of worship will begin at 2:00 pm in the Sanctuary.

We are pleased to have Rt Rev. Paul Graf assisting Pastor Katie in worship and Jeffery Verkuilen with us on the organ for this service. Paul was a dear friend of Bob’s and is a Bishop in the Moravian Church. Jeff is organist and choir director at First United Methodist Church in Green Bay, teaches organ at St Norbert College in DePere, is a fellow in the American Guild of Organists and was a good friend of Bob’s as well. At the family’s request, there will not be a reception following the service.

Huehn’s Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay is handling arrangements and will host a visitation on Thursday, March 24 from 3:00 to 8:00 pm. Mary is hopeful that by having a visitation there, the large community of friends as well as students and staff from the high school where Bob was principal will have the opportunity to gather and remember him there in Sturgeon Bay, and not feel obligated to drive to Green Bay for the memorial service. Of course, anyone is welcome at either or both events. We give thanks to God for the life and ministry of Robert Nickel.

Your Monthly Rundown

Cheri Simonet

We’re excited to tell you about our newest addition to Connections – the Monthly Rundown.

Have you wondered about the outcome of a recent event? Well, this is where you’ll find the answers!

The Rundown section of Connections features a rundown of recent events so you’ll know the outcome of our outreach efforts, ministries and more. It’s also our bulletin board to receive special messages from fellow members and committees.

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!

Visit the March Rundown NOW!

Returning to In-Person Worship

Cheri Simonet
Yes we're open

Beginning Sunday, February 6

After careful consideration, the Session has voted to re-open the Sanctuary to an in-person worship option beginning Sunday February 6, 2022.

We closed in January due to the recent surge in Covid infections in our area, and are glad to see that number beginning a downturn. We will continue to offer the livestream worship service for any who are not healthy or not yet comfortable coming in-person. It is our strong recommendation that everyone continue to wear masks while in the church building, and KN95 masks will be available at the entry doors if you need one.

The nursery will re-open as well, and Confirmation class will resume on February 6. Sunday School class will not be held that day because of communion but will resume February 13.

However, the Fellowship hour following our worship service, with coffee and treats, has been discontinued for the time being. Thank you for your understanding.

We hope to see everyone in-person or virtually via our Facebook Livesteam on Sunday mornings at 10am!

#FirstPresGB

Cheri Simonet
#FirstPresGB

What is a hashtag?

A hashtag is a label used on social media sites that makes it easier to find information with a theme or specific content. Hashtags encourage social media users to explore content that catches their eye.

Social is about being social. Help us be found on social so we can welcome new people into our faith community. The next time you post photos of our church events and of our members, use #FirstPresGB in your social.

Help #FirstPresGB stay #Relevant. #ThankYou!

New Newsletter – New Site!

Cheri Simonet

The Communications and Marketing Committee is pleased to present our new and improved newsletter, Connections – keeping you connected with what’s Happening Now! Connections will have the same great content, news, updates and all the happenings you’ve always received with Crossroads but now it’s easier to navigate the information that’s of greatest interest to you.

And, that’s not all! The C&M Committee is also pleased to announce we have a new and improved website! Our new design is easier to navigate and it’s responsive, adjusting to whatever screen you’re using. In our News section you’ll find our Happening Now page which contains all the great information you receive each month in Connections, but now everything will be archived so you’ll always have at your fingertips an article you first read in Connections. 

Please take a few minutes to explore our site and let us know what you think at communications@firstpresgreenbay.org.

Installation of Pastor Katie Estes – October 10th at 4:00pm

Cheri Simonet

Our installation of The Rev. Katie Estes as our pastor has been delayed for too many months, and at least some of us are wondering why we even need to do it at all. What’s the point of an installation when she’s already been serving among us for almost a year? But unlike the standard notification from an appliance store that “your installation is scheduled,” a pastoral installation is the occasion for great celebration, so we need to do it!

The Presbytery of Winnebago is actually the “host” for this event, though in all truth they turn all the details over to us. So what can we expect? A wonderful full service of worship, special music featuring the Griffon String Quartet, an ensemble and a soloist, scripture and sermon, a charge to the congregation and another to the pastor, and then a lovely reception in the Fellowship Room for all our guests. We will have guests here—the current moderator of Winnebago Presbytery as well as several elders and pastors representing the presbytery, plus a few family members and friends of Katie’s from her former congregation in St. Paul. While the service of installation doesn’t change anything about our call to Katie or the relationship we’ve already spent almost a year developing, it does mark the official beginning of this ministry we are doing together, and who doesn’t like an excuse for a party? Please mark your calendar and plan to join us for this special occasion. The honor of your presence is requested!

Grow Through Giving: Stewardship Focus for 2021

Cheri Simonet

As our committees prepare their budget requests and we begin to build a ministry budget for our congregation for 2022, the Stewardship Committee is pleased to present our focus theme for this effort: “Grow Through Giving.” For four weeks of October, we will offer ways for everyone to turn their attention to God’s generous gifts to us and our generous response. In worship we will look at the creation story, the farming parables of Jesus, biblical instructions about giving and the imperative to grow. We will sing as many hymns as we can find about seeds, soil, and growth. With the children we will actually plant and nurture a seed, and, fingers crossed, we will observe its growth! A letter with more details and your pledge card will sent to homes. Commitment Sunday will be on October 31, and more information about that special day is below. We sincerely hope that each member and friend of First Presbyterian will catch this vision and “grow through giving” to the church for our future and God’s ministry in this place.

Welcome New Director of Children, Youth & Families!

Cheri Simonet

The Personnel Committee and Christian Education Committee are delighted to introduce to our congregation the newest member of our staff, Joel Morien. Joel will serve in a part-time (20 hrs/week) position as our Director of Children, Youth & Family Ministries. He will be formally introduced on Sunday October 3 in the worship service, and you can stop by and greet him in the church office on an upcoming Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday during office hours. Joel hails from Appleton, where he and his wife Brittany live in a household ruled by their almost 3-year old daughter Aubrey.

Joel has lots of experience with youth ministry and has crossed paths with some of us in this congregation in years past, when he directed camps and retreats at Pilgrim Center as well as leading youth programs at Synod School. He served as Youth Ministry Director for three years at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Appleton. Here at FPC Green Bay, he will be responsible, working alongside the CE Committee, for ministry and programming for our youngest children through high school youth and their families. Joel’s approach to ministry is relationship-based and team-oriented, so come meet him and join in his welcome to our congregation!