On this Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost we begin our new program year with Blessings of the Backpacks. Our readings are from Proverbs 22: 1-2, 8-9, 22-23 https://bit.ly/4gjAz7V and James 2: 1-10, 14-17 https://bit.ly/4cUNw57. Pastor Katie’s reflection is “Thinking About Our Baggage”.
Category: General
Worship Service September 1, 2024
On this Labor Day weekend, we conclude our summer sermon series with The Gospel According to Babette’s Feast: Love and Sacrifice. Our text is from 1 John 2: 1-6 https://bit.ly/3YZWqej and our guest in the pulpit is Nancy Siewert.
September 2024 Rundown
Church Chix Socials
The Chix had a hiatus for the month of August but are excited to be returning for another social on Thursday, September 5th at 6pm when we’ll be dining on the East Side of town at Mackinaw’s Grill & Spirits located at 2925 Voyager Drive. There’s a sign up sheet on the bulletin board or you can RSVP to office@firstpresgreenbay.org or call (920) 437-8121.
August Confirmation Social
The August confirmation social was another great gathering! Originally planned to be at the Deadman’s home, our host changed to Pastor Katie’s house. Bruce still grilled out the best brats and hot dogs, and everyone brought a side dish or dessert to pass. We played ladder golf and the youth went out in the paddle boat on the pond, with a few fishing while out there. What a great time it was! Thank you to Bruce Deadman for being our chef and to Pastor Katie for being our host!
Synod School
Eleven members from our church were part of the 550+ folks who gathered at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake Iowa for the 70th annual Synod School of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies. We traveled to Storm Lake on a very comfortable coach bus, had a wonderful week of classes, worship, food and fun. Five of us were teachers, two children, three youth, and all were filled with the Spirit!
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School was a huge success! Our theme this year was We are God’s People and we went through different stories in the bible that included Solomon from Solomon’s Temple, Jesus and the Resurrection, the man who was lowered through the roof for Jesus to heal, and on the final night our focus was We are the Body when we reflected on how we all have different gifts but together we form the body of Christ.
There were 15 children in attendance and 4 youth volunteers that included Nathan Behnke, Alaina Erickson, Jessica Gauthier and Kaylee Blade. Thank you to our adult volunteers that included Deb Gauthier, Loni McCormick, George and Brenda Hubbard, Kevin Kabacinski, Olivia Crooks, Grace Estes-Collins, Pastor Katie and Joel Morien. Special thanks to Mike Melton who wrote the curriculum! Check out our photo gallery!
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!
Christian Education Program Year Start
Fall is in the air, kids and teachers are heading back to school and we will soon see leaves turning color. We begin the program year at church with a special “blessing of the backpacks” in our worship service.
This is meant for ALL ages: for preschoolers and parents with diaper bags, for school-aged children and their teachers, for high school and college students, and for anyone who carries a backpack or briefcase or tote bag to work or the gym or anywhere else!
Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 8th at the 10:00am worship service and bring your backpack for a blessing. A special tag will be provided for each bag to commemorate the occasion—don’t miss it!
September 2024 Fourth Sunday Forum
With our new program year, our 4th Sunday Forum will resume on Sunday, September 22nd before the 10am worship service at 9am in the Fellowship Room.
Our speaker for the month of September will be, Outreach Committee Member and Board Member of the Presbyterian Pantry, Stephanie Fahringer. Stephanie will share with us stories about how the Pantry affects the lives of Pantry guests along with the Pantry’s history and the number of families that they impact in the community.
The Presbyterian Pantry has been assisting families for over 40 years. The Pantry began in the early 1980’s to provide basic food for Asian refugees when they settled into the area around the church. Over the years, the Pantry has grown to include all racial demographics, age groups and economic factors. As the needs of the Pantry grew, other Presbyterian Churches in the area were asked to join this effort. Today the Pantry is supported by First Presbyterian Church of Green Bay, First United Presbyterian Church of DePere and Wequiock Presbyterian Church. The Pantry is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization. Please join us to learn more about the Pantry’s rich history and the needs that they serve in our local community.
Fall 2024 Women’s Retreat
A Recipe for Connection
Would you be interested in a women’s retreat this fall? This was requested (maybe by you?) on a survey done a year ago and we’re finally going to try it. We plan to hold the event at Imago Dei Village retreat center in Clintonville, less than an hour’s drive from here. We will begin with dinner on Friday night October 25th and conclude after lunch on Saturday, October 26th. Accommodations are in a lodge with bedrooms for 2 or 3 women and private bathrooms with showers. Cost would be less than $75 for each participant, and scholarships are available. There is a full kitchen, so we would share cooking duties and provide 3 meals: dinner, breakfast, and lunch.
Our proposed theme for the retreat is A Recipe For Connection. We hope to spend the time together thinking about food, family, traditions, and the connections we create as women together. We will view the 2009 movie Julie & Julia, which is a wonderful biographical comedy drama written and directed by Nora Ephron starring Meryl Streep and Amy Adams in the title roles. The film contrasts the life of chef Julia Child in the early years of her culinary career with the life of young New Yorker Julie Powell, who aspires to cook all 524 recipes in Child’s cookbook in 365 days, a challenge she described on her popular blog, which made her a published author.
We certainly can’t promise to “master the art of French cooking,” (the title of Julia Childs’ cookbooks) but we might attempt a few fun recipes from it together! We need a minimum of ten participants to hold this retreat. Please let Pastor Katie know if you are interested or sign up on the bulletin board at the church.
Sunday School Begins September 8
It’s back-to-school and back to Sunday School, too!
Sunday school class is for preschool through fifth grade children and begins on Sunday, September 8th. We leave the worship service at the conclusion of the children’s message and head upstairs to rooms 204/206 for a Bible story, lesson, craft or project, and prayer. All are welcome—bring a friend along!
This fall we’ll be using the Shine Curriculum. The lessons will include a bible story, discussion, sharing and craft activities. It’s easy to teach and easy to adjust for the ages and size of the group.
If you might be willing to teach a week or a month or more, please see Joel Morien.
Confirmation Class and Youth Group is Back
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 8th.
After a little more than a year, this class of students is almost ready to write their faith statements and confirm their faith in worship. Watch for the date soon!
Youth group meets each Wednesday night beginning September 11th from 6:30 to 8:00pm and is led by CE Director Joel Morien along with members of the congregation. 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
An overnight at church in December to wrap gifts for our Prayer Basket families
Ski trip in January, and more!
Dinner for 2 @ the U
The Outreach Committee is happy to be hosting our annual Dinner for 2 @ the U meal for college students at the UWGB Mauthe Center on Thursday, September 19th at 5pm. We’re anticipating an attendance of at least 25 people this time.
But we can’t pull this off without your help – we need contributions to make this a delicious and nutritious meal!
The main course is sloppy joes, and we have both the vegan and non-vegan planned but we’re in need of an assortment of fresh cut veggies, fresh fruits, and desserts for our students. Please indicate on the bulletin board signup sheet what you’re able to contribute and have your contribution at the church by noon on September 19th.
If you’re able to volunteer to serve the meal, we could definitely use your service and there’s another sign up sheet on the bulletin board to volunteer. Thank you for your support!
Feed My Starving Children MobilePack 2024
Are you ready to have some fun, and make a difference at the same time?
Then plan to volunteer for the 2024 Feed My Starving Children MobilePack event in Green Bay!
The 2024 FMSC MobilePack will be held at Green Bay Community Church from Monday, October 7 through Thursday, October 10. There are six different packing times available so you’re sure to find one that fits your schedule (the 2 times on Wednesday are reserved for Youth Group).
Registration opens on Sunday, September 1.
You can sign up at https://give.fmsc.org/greenbay, or you can sign up on the FMSC sign-up sheet at church. The sheet will be in the office during the week, and in the back of the sanctuary on Sunday. If you are unable to register online or visit church to register in person, please contact us at office@firstpresgreenbay.org or call (920) 437-8121 with the day and time you’d like to sign up, and we’ll take care of the registration for you.
If you haven’t packed or volunteered before, make this the year that you try something new and see what all the excitement is about! Please consider helping in this great cause! For more information or questions, please contact Kirke Ryder at Kirke.Ryder@gmail.com, or call (920) 883-6589.
And, please prayerfully consider a donation to FMSC through our church. Simply select the FMSC tile in the Give Now section of our website at firstpresgreenbay.org/give-now/, or note FMSC on your check.
Thank you for your support!
