Church and Home FEBRUARY 2014

“Boldly with Christ We Belong, Believe, Grow and Reach Out”

Dear Friends,

Before I sat down to write my article for the February newsletter, something came across my desk written by Ann Jones. February is the month of Valentine’s Day when we see hearts and cupids. It is also a month where the word love is thrown around. As Christians, we are called to share the love of God with the world. I thought Ann’s words reminded us of this task as she reflects on Christmas. May each of you be surrounded by God’s love!

Grace & peace, Pastor Polly Our Work Begins – Ann Jones Undoubtedly the signs of the Christmas season are packed away; but, hopefully the message of the season lingers. On December 8 we sang these words in worship:

When the song of the angels is stilled, when the star in the sky is gone, when the kings and the shepherds have found their way home, the work of Christmas is begun:

The angels, the shepherds, the kings were the children in our congregation sharing the Christmas story. And you, readers, are the ones who remember other tellings, perhaps by your children or even you. Remembering that beloved story of God's son born in a manger. All of us coming to the manger, that Christ may be born again in our hearts.

We are reminded of the coming/presence of his light each Sunday with the light-ing of the Christ candle.

The children used the song 'Go Light Your World' by Chris Rice to think about sharing the light of Christ. Singing her lyrics:

There is a candle in every soul Some brightly burning, some dark and cold There is a spirit who brings a fire Ignites a candle and makes His home

They raised questions and offered responses: Who are the lonely, the tired, the worn? It might be me when I have no one to play with, or my little brother in the dark. It might be my elderly neighbor who just moved into a care center. Perhaps it's the new kid on the first day of school. I know it was my grandma after grandpa died. Who are the hopeless, the confused, the torn? It might be children surrounded by war. A family with no job, little money, and bills to pay. It might be me when others are wanting me to do something I know is wrong. A parent whose child is seriously ill. Who are the helpless, the deceived, the poor? It might be me when I want a good grade on the spelling test but haven't studied. Families who've lost their home in a flood or tornado. Children needing safe drinking water. The classmate who I know is often bullied.

How can we let Christ's light shine through us to bring his fire and make his home in a troubled soul? Carry your candle. Run to the darkness. Take your candle. Go light your world. Our work continues.

First Presbyterian Church 1901 W Leota Street

North Platte, NE 69101

Telephone: (308) 532-1083 Fax: (308) 532-2968

Web site: www.fpcnp.org Church e-mail address:

office@fpcnp.org pastorpolly@fpcnp.org

Staff Pastor:

Polly K. Deppen-Williams Admin Assist: Naomi Okoye

Custodian: Regan Brown

Choir Director: Connie McCreery

Bells Director: Ann Jones Child Care: Deb Welsh

Elders Clerk of Session:

Jon Beggs Larry Pedersen, Treasurer

Scott Baker Doris Craig

Chuck Francis Rhonda Godbey JoAnne Greene

Ann Jones Dean Kurth

Ned Mack Martha Orcutt

Glenn Petersen Deb Weitzel Jim Whitney

Deacons Jody & Tim Hudson

Jim McClymont Marlene Minshull

Maxine Mulder Christina Ochsner

Scott Orr Susan Peters

Betty Priel Irene & Danny Ridgway

Bev & Cecil Sallee Maris Schad

Gertrude Stewart Doris Wells

PW Moderator: Joyce Kohler Vice Moderator: Dixie Francis

Hastings College Choir Coming to FPC!

Make sure to save the evening of Thursday, February 13, to enjoy the Hastings College Choir in performance at FPC! The 54 voice choir is under the direction of Dr. Fritz Mountford and has a fantas-tic selection of music from Rossini to Eric Whitacre to Billy Joel! Beloved hymns and folksongs will also warm your hearts and lift your spirits! Concert begins at 7:30 in our Sanctuary!

Hastings College is affiliated with the Presbyte-rian Church and we are greatly honored to have a choir of this distinction in our church!

We will be serving an evening meal to the choir in our FLC before their performance. We will also coordinate homes for students to spend the night before they continue on their tour.

How can you be involved?

HOMES ARE NEEDED! We hope you will open your guest room or air mattress to 1, 2, or more students! They will need a light breakfast in the morning before you bring them back to the church from where their tour will continue. If you are able to provide housing but not transportation, let us know and we will help!

DESSERT! We need a few good folks to provide brownies, a cake, or cookies for dessert for the students' evening meal.

ATTEND! The Hastings College Choir has not graced our Sanctuary before! This promises to be an evening you won’t forget. This choir is one of the finest college choirs you will ever hear, we promise!

Pastor Polly’s Contact Info:

Church Office: 532-1083

Email: pastorpolly@fpcnp.org

Congratulations to Eldon & Janice Walters on the birth of a grand-daughter, Kennady JoLee, born January 3, 2014. She is the daugh-ter of Steven & Jill Walters.

The SOUP-ER BOWL luncheon will be THIS Sunday, February 2, following worship. Plan to stay for soup, cornbread, dessert and good fellowship around the table. Chefs are making preparations. Our youth will be serving. A free will offering will be taken with proceeds going to meet local food needs. If you can not attend but would like to donate, use an envelope in the pew rack and mark SOUP on it before placing it in the offering plate or leaving it in the office.

What: Date Night! When: Sunday, February 9 @ 6:00pm Where: Margarita’s Mexican Restaurant

Who is invited? We are inviting younger couples in the church to get together for dinner and get to know one another. It is a great opportunity to invite friends and introduce them to our church.

What about the kids? Drop off your kids at the church at 5:45pm for a sim-ple supper and a movie. The Senior High Youth Group will be providing childcare until 8:00PM as a fundraiser for their ski trip. Donations will be greatly appreciated!!!

RSVP: Call the church, 532-1083, or email Pastor Polly @ pastorpolly@fpcnp.org or text her, 520-8216, so that we can get an idea of how many children will be attending.

Grace Forrester was recently able to participate in the BOCS honor choir sponsored by University of Nebraska in Omaha. The performance took place Sunday, January 26, at the Holland Performing Arts Center in Omaha. Congratulations Grace!!!

FPC & Me The Learning The K – 5 children and youth are learning the story of the Israelites escape from Egypt. The events were remembered through a Seder meal: maror – bitter herbs, symbolizing the bitterness of slavery charoset – fruit/nut mixture, a reminder of the mortar used in construction karpas – celery dipped in salt, representing the tears shed beizah – egg, symbolizing life Zeroah – roasted lamb, symbolizing the paschal sacrificial lamb matza – unleavened bread, representing the haste in their departure To grasp the leavened / unleavened bread concept we did some present day science to observe the action of yeast.

The Mission In mission we continue to gather offering for Church World Service blankets. Our count at this writing is 50 blankets. The project continues through February. Earlier the middle schoolers used some of their mission funds to purchase a pair of goats and rabbits through the Heifer International program. These animals not only provide food to meet immediate needs, but also establish a sustaining food supply as some offspring are saved and some are given to other families.

The Meal/Fellowship Thanks to the Thomas, Zachry, Pierce, and Connick families for desserts on Wed. night. Thank you to Diana Diffendaffer for a fun mashed potato bar. Wed. night meals are a solid plan with flexible edges. Count on a good meal. Mary Pendleton is the guiding hand in the kitchen and will assist anyone who would like to prepare all or part of a meal. Servers arrive: Tom Pendleton, Jenny Zachry, Renee Callaghan, Cheryl Kurth. Clean up happens: Joyce Kohler, Bob Barr, Ned and Nancy Mack. Table fellowship is shared: Deb Welsh, Susan Petersen, Chris Ochsner, Maris Schad, Pastor Polly. Rhonda Godbey, Scott and Melinda Baker appear where ever a helping hand is needed.

I just love “God coincidences”! For the week’s lesson on January 22nd with the high school, I was thumbing through our big stack of possible lessons and came across one that discusses the sanctity of life. Talked to my cohort–in-crime, Susan, and she liked it too. I went on the internet to do some research on Psalm 139 and came across an article. This is what it said: “Today is ‘National Sanctity of Human Life Day.’ President Ronald Reagan declared the first Na-tional Sanctity of Human Life Day back in 1984. Since then, most presidents have celebrated this day each year on the Sunday closest to January 22nd.”

I’ve told the kids about coincidences like this, and they think it’s pretty cool, but they didn’t think this one was that great! Well, I did, and it just makes me realize that my God is always with me whether I notice it or not, and some-times I see His direction more clearly than others, like this time, for example!

I must admit we were curious to see how a discussion on abortion, suicide and murder would go with the group, but it was a great discussion. What a great group of kids who speak openly and honestly. It’s our job to plant seeds and let them see God’s way isn’t always the way of the world. If you’d like to read the article on Psalm 139, it is:

http://www.rayfowler.org/sermons/psalms/the-sanctity-of-human-life-in-the-womb-psalm-139/

- - Renee

FPC & ME—WEDNESDAY SCHEDULE

4:30-5:00pm Worship 5:00-5:45pm Class 5:45-6:15pm Dinner 6:30-8:00pm Senior High

From Grace Ministries Food Pantry….

Looking back over 2013, we are in awe of our amazing group of volunteers and all your generous donations! Director Dean Kurth has completed the calculations for the past year, tallying hours worked in the Pantry, number of families and individuals served, and items given away. Pour yourself a cup of tea, and sit back and be amazed as you read!

Volunteer Hours: To run the Pantry in 2013, 3,103 hours of volunteer time were needed and 2,165 of those hours came from YOU at FPC! Almost 200 hours came from our friends at First Baptist and 194 hours were logged from 'family and friends of the Pantry', not necessarily affiliated with a particular church or group. 189 1/2 hours came from the Masons, 183 hours from First Evangelical Lutheran, and 171 hours came from First Methodist. We have other volunteers as well, that do not actually log their hours spent helping at the Pantry.

First Presbyterian has roughly 25 regular volunteers. Our Director, Dean Kurth, logged 476 hours of volunteer time this past year. Next time you see him, tell him 'Thank You!' His record-keeping is meticulous and his dedication and enthusiasm are contagious!

Families Served: In 2013, Grace Ministries Food Pantry served 1,520 families, which is the highest EVER. By comparison, we served 1,394 families in 2012, and 805 families in 2001. When you break the families down into Individuals, we see that 3,633 individuals were given assistance in 2013, compared to 3,472 in 2012, and 2,305 individuals in 2001.

Sacks Given Out: Last year 1,932 pre-filled sacks were given to the hungry but this figure can be a little misleading, as recipients always receive far more than just the pre-filled sacks. The pre-filled sacks include a measured and specific assortment of food and are based on the size of the family. Our customers receive these bags, but are then given many more items as they are available, including bread, produce, cereal, instant potatoes, frozen items, dairy, eggs, and much more. These extra items are determined by what the Pantry has been lucky enough to receive and the assortment will vary greatly each week.

Peanut Butter and Soup: 156 jars of peanut butter were given away in December. On average, 150 jars of peanut butter were given away each month last year. That comes to 1,800 JARS OF PEANUT BUTTER in one year. The least expensive peanut butter available is around $2.50 a jar, so when you figure the monetary worth of the peanut butter that came from Grace Ministries Food Pantry last year, you have roughly $4,500. Incredible, isn't it? Let's look at soup: In December, we gave away 524 cans of soup. If we average 500 cans a month for a year, we give out 6000 CANS OF SOUP in one year. It's pretty hard to find soup less than $1.25 per can, and often, cans with lots of meat in them run $2.50 each, but let's use a conservative figure of $1.50 per can, and take that times the 6000 cans we give out a year: $9000. The retail value of JUST peanut butter and soup in a year's time is $13,500.

Not only do our clients receive peanut butter and soup in the pre-filled bags, but they also receive canned vegetables and fruit, beans, spaghetti sauce, tuna and other canned meats, pasta or rice, macaroni and cheese, mixes, frozen meat, margarine, juice, and milk as standard items. It is easy to see that the dollar value of the items leaving the Pantry is extraordinary. Grocery prices are ris-ing constantly. No wonder our clients that are strug-gling financially cannot keep food on their tables!

Which brings me to Donations: We are so proud of our Congregation and this town for making their gifts to Grace Ministries Food Pantry a priority! Those of you that so faithfully support the Pantry with monthly monetary gifts warm our hearts. Those of you that drop your change into the "Pennies for the Pantry" jar, or bring canned goods for the box in the Narthex, or the 'Second Sunday, Second Purchase' grocery cart are feeding THOUSANDS of people a year with your generosity. Many of you supported the Deacons' Christmas Project to the Pantry and many of you support food drives in local businesses and organizations. There are so many ways to help and we are blown away by your continued generosity.

Thank you ALL for your support, your time, your prayers, and your commitment to our Pantry! We've said it before, but we say it again, 'We couldn't do this work without YOU!'

May God Bless You ALL! Leigh Henline for the Pantry

Stamps for Mission

A special thank you to all of you that supported our Stamps for Mission project in 2013! We hope to gather even more stamps in 2014!

Keep up the great work everyone! If you

“Second Sunday = Second Purchase” of an item for the Pantry

Bring an item (or two) and put them in the grocery cart on the 2nd Sunday - or - leave it in the pantry box any time during the week - or - take it to the pantry at 114 C Street between

the hours of 1-3pm.

Offering envelopes for 2014 available

Please stop by the table in the narthex and pick up your offering envelopes. If you would like a packet and do not see one with your name on it, you can come by the church office and get one.

Adventures of Bob and Kristi Rice Democratic Republic of Congo / Kanaga, West Kasai

For the latest news from our missionaries go to their blog: http://bobandkristi.blogspot.com/

Red Cross Blood Draw A Blood Drive has been scheduled for Thursday, February 6, in the Family Life Center from 12—6:00pm. Please contact Joe Conger to sign up.

Blanket Fund Funds for the blankets have reached $250 which is 50 blankets. Donations will be collected through February. Take a look at the wall in the chapel and watch our total grow.

Soups on Boy Scout Troop 291 will be serving a soup lunch on Sunday, February 23, immediately following morning worship. Come and enjoy a hot bowl of soup and fellowship and support our local scout troop.

Check out the church website:

www.fpcnp.org

FebruaryBirthdays

PW Fellowships meet Thursday, February 20 in the Church Parlor

9:30am - Morning Fellowship

Hostesses: Dorothy Conger & Janet Hare

6:00pm - Evening Spirits

BY — FOR — ABOUT PRESBYTERIAN WOMEN

An Abiding Hope The presence of God in Exodus

Having come through the Red Sea to safety, the Israelites are soon in need of water. Finding a spring with bitter water, they call out to Moses, who with God's intervention, sweetens the water with wood. To satisfy their cry for food, God sends manna each morning and quail each evening. At Rephidim the request for water comes with escalating demands. Again God enables Moses to supply it by striking a rock to release the much needed water. In spite of God's repeated providence, the people continue to question: Is God with us? Are we better off now than we were in Egypt? In the words of lesson writer Janice Catron, 'this is not a happy, family friendly camping trip.' As with us, agitation rises when our creature comforts are lacking. Can we pause, breathe, and in graditude focus on the grace of God and all that he provides? The Jewish people remember the gift of water in the wilderness at their Festival of Booths, also known as Sukkot. In John 7 Jesus is at the festival when he cries out to the crowd, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,

7 Bob Weber 9 Anne Baxter Helen Raetz 12 Hallina Godbey Barbara Yonkey 14 Kason Baker 15 Ron Detlefsen Paula Newmyer 19 Brandon Baxter 20 Bob Kohler Norma Young

21 Porter Connick Bruce Hoye 23 Jenny Zachry 24 Leigh Henline Chantel Johnson Marlene Minshull Eldon Walters 25 Mike Leibhart 27 Karen Troyer 28 Brad Hacker Callie Hodgson

February Anniversaries 2/3/52 Donna & Glenn Mulholland

2/5/72 Jane & Mike McCrone

and let the one who believes in me drink.” We remember the image of “bread from heaven” in the Lord's Prayer “give us this day our daily bread” and in communion when we celebrate Jesus as the “the bread of life” and the “living bread that came down from heaven”. A quote from Bishop Desmond Tutu suggests our take away from the story. “When there is someone hungry, God wants to perform the miracle of feeding that person. But it won't be any longer through manna falling from heaven. Normally, more usually, God can do nothing until we provide God with the means, the bread and the fish, to feed the hungry. . .” Feeding the hungry is the immediate response. What about the issues that foster hunger? What is our action here? God provided faithfully for the people's physical, emotional, and spiritual needs in the wilderness. Perhaps we should stop here and sing 'Called as Partners in Christ's Service.' How does our congregation help “bear the bur-dens” and take the light of Christ out into the world?

The story continues on the third Thursday in February (20) at 9:30am or 6:00pm.

FEBRUARY COMMITTEE Members: Cheryl MacDonald Maris Schad Jeanne Stearns Karen Troyer Janice Walters Ramona Wickenkamp Barbara Yonkey Jenny Zachry

February 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2 9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship Radio 1410 am 11:15am Soup-er Bowl Lunch

3

4 9am Mission Fellowship

5 FPC & Me Choir Rehearsals 7pm Chancel Choir 8pm Bell Choir

6 10:30 PW Coordinating Team Red Cross Blood Draw 12 – 6PM In the FLC

7 8

9 9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship Radio 1410 am

10 4pm Evang Mtg 6:30pm CE Mtg

11 9am Mission Fellowship

12 FPC & Me Choir Rehearsals 7pm Chancel Choir 8pm Bell Choir

13 7:30pm Hastings College Choir

14

15

16 9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship Radio 1410 am

17 4pm Finance Mtg 7pm Properties Mtg

18 9am Mission Fellowship 6pm Mission Mtg 7pm Worship Mtg

19 FPC & Me Choir Rehearsals 7pm Chancel Choir 8pm Bell Choir

20 9:30am Morning Fellowship 6:00pm Evening Spirits

21 22

23 9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship Radio 1410 am Boy Scout Soup Lunch

24 7pm Session Mtg

25 26 FPC & Me Choir Rehearsals 7pm Chancel Choir 8pm Bell Choir

27 28