Church and Home October 2016

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

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

STAFF INTERIM PASTOR:

Rev. Steve Nofel

ADMIN ASSIST: Naomi Okoye

CUSTODIAN: Diane Nawyn

CHOIR DIRECTOR: Connie McCreery

BELL DIRECTOR: Ann Jones

CHILD CARE: Deb Welsh

ELDERS Clerk of Session:

Jon Beggs Dean Kurth, Treasurer

Rachel Allison Scott Baker

Lowell Fenster Chuck Francis

Ann Jones Kristi Leibhart

Nancy Mack Ron Ochsner Martha Orcutt

Glenn Petersen Sara Pierce

Mandy Vargas Deb Weitzel

DEACONS Howard & Ruth Gebhardt

Janet & Leroy Hare Jim McClymont

Tammy Miller Maxine Mulder

Zac Ochsner Cyndee & Scott Orr

Susan Peters Irene & Danny Ridgway

Bev & Cecil Sallee Robert Weber

Rod Weitzel Jenny Zachry

PW MODERATOR: Dixie Francis

When we were first married Kim and I went to the

pound and adopted the mutt of all mutts. We named her

Rascal. She was bony, scraggly haired, terrier –whippet

mix. She was a mess, but we quickly loved her.

Because of our weird sense of humor, we quickly

changed her name. Walking around our first Nebraska State Fair, we were

signing up for all the freebies at the different booths using the name

Ms. Rascal H. Dog, with our home address.

Rascal H. received mail for years. Alas, the roofers didn’t realize Ms.

Dog lived in the church manse and couldn’t engage them. The water softener

companies never knew she was happy drinking skanky three day old rain wa-

ter out of ditches. And the cookware folks never new she had no opposable

thumb and she could never use a new non-stick sauté pan. Eventually,

Ms. Rascal H. Dog’s offers petered out.

This reminds me of church: bear with me… We invite people to come

to church, yet so often they don’t come. We make pleas for folks to help

with FPC&ME, worship, different ministries or fellowship, and often it is the

same people. We wonder why more people just don’t give more of them-

selves.

Maybe we fall into the habit of those long ago roofers, water softeners

and cookware solicitors. Maybe unwittingly, we are asking folks to do things

they cannot or are not ready to do yet.

As we invite and encourage, we need to first LISTEN and find out

others wants and needs. Sometimes I get caught up in what the church needs,

and I fail to realize the person I am engaging doesn’t have the relationship

with the Lord and the church that I am probably assuming.

Our Lord Jesus never made that mistake. Over and again He accepted

people where they were at. He never forced them to be Him (good thing

‘cause none of us could be). He never asked them to do something before

they were ready. And when He did invite others to be followers, he never set

up any hard to manage expectations. He simply said, “Come and see.” (John

1:39) “Come follow me.” (Mark 1:17)

Imitate the Lord. Simply invite people to come and see Jesus and

Jesus’ people at worship, at work, and at play. Not ask for anything, or have

expectations, but ask them to “come and see.” And when they don’t, though

perhaps disappointed, we cannot to lose interest. Keep inviting. Remember

the lesson of the widow and the unjust judge. (Luke 18:1-8) Persist.

After all we aren’t offering pots and pans at cut-rate prices, but God

with us, life eternal in Christ and the shared life of support and love in the

church.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Steve

Pastor Steve’s contact information:

Church Phone: 532-1083 Cell Phone: (402) 202-2381

Email: pastorsteve@fpcnp.org

Fellowship Time!!! MS Friendship meets

Friday, October 7 6:00pm at the airport

RSVP to Pennie Mattke or the church office.

Many many thanks to all the ladies that took time to clean the toys and make the nursery look fresh again. You are greatly appreciated, it looks wonderful! –

Thanks - - Deb Welsh

10/06/63 Karen and Dan Troyer 10/06/84 Paula and Larry Stobbs 10/11/97 Chris and Ron Ochsner 10/16/54 Harriet and Jess Nielsen 10/18/52 Toni and Charles Volcek 10/23/77 Cyndee and Scott Orr 10/25/97 Kristi and Mike Leibhart

Pastor Steve along with one of the Deacons has been extending the table and taking communion to our shut-ins. If you have not received communion and would like to be receiving it, please contact the church office.

Or If you are just interested in a visit, we would like to hear from you also.

GIRLS' LUNCH OUT! Finally, the "girls" of the congregation will be meeting for a no host lunch at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the Espresso Shop downtown! This is an invitation to girls of all ages, from birth on, to enjoy a relaxing time together without cooking! Certainly, if you have a little guy who is not in school yet, bring him too!

*Remember, Wednesday, October 5th, 12:00 noon, or whenever you can get there. See you then! (If you cannot make it this time, mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 2.)

Our sympathy and prayers go to Pat & Tami Forrester and family on the death of Pat’s father, Rex Forrester who passed away September 18, 2016.

Our sympathy and prayers go to Erin & Mike Shultz and family on the death of Erin’s mother, Virginia Hornbacher, who passed away September 10, 2016.

Our sympathy and prayers to the family of Alfred Swanson (our 75-Year Member) who passed away September 24, 2016.

1 Dorothy Conger Steven Finke

2 MaryAnn Blackledge 3 Marilyn Jones 5 Gerald Finke 6 Doug Wright 8 Wylie Johnson 9 Karla Dorzweiler 10 Madison Erickson 11 Elaine Boyle 12 Joan Amweg 13 Jakob Ochsner Bev Sallee 13 Gertrude Stewart 15 Patty Whitney

17 Loncey Johnson Deb Welsh Griffen Whitney 18 Jeff Baldridge 20 Marley Fisher 21 Dennis Lombardi Janet Miller 22 Janet Barnhart Duane Hoschouer 23 Glenn Petersen Alfred Swanson 24 Ruth Reynolds 25 Ramona Anderson Dixie Francis 26 Cecil Sallee 27 Wendy Staroska Barbara Stearns 30 Hannah Dolan

FPC&ME

The Wednesday schedule is as follows: 3:30pm - Kids can be dropped off

(a light snack will be served and an opportunity to get homework done)

4:30-5:00pm - Worship 5:00-5:45pm - Lesson 5:45-6:15pm - Dinner is served

Invite your friends - neighbors - classmates and come and join us. It’s going to be great!

Senior High Youth Group has began! Bring a friend

and come and join us!

High School Youth Group Meets on Wednesdays from 6:30- 8:00pm

Food and fellowship Bring friends!

Please contact Renee or Susan with any ques-tions! Renee Callaghan 530-1905 Susan Petersen 530-0189

Adult Bible Study Opportunity The Fall Bible Study with Pastor Steve on “Back to Basic Bible Study” continues with the specific dates and topics outlined below. The Bible Study meets at 9:00am on the Saturdays the Huskers are on the road or off. You are probably looking for something to do before each game anyway. Come and renew your Bible knowledge. Come join in the discussion. All are welcome. Dates:

October 8 - Pentateuch – First Five Books of the Bible October 15 - The History and Wisdom of the Old Testament October 29 - The Prophets November 5 - The Gospels December 3 - The Letters December 10 - A New Mysterious Writing - Revelation

We would like to bring the youth turkey dinner back this year, but it will take commitment of some help to make this a reality. The youth group leaders would like to pass this on to some new leaders who will be in charge of the dinner! We have notes and recipes for everything you need to pull this off! The dinner would be after church on Novem-ber 20th. The middle school and high school kids would do the “mash-n-bash” and make pumpkin bars on Wednesday November 16th. If this sounds like something you could be in charge of or help with, please contact Renee Callaghan, 308/530-1905 or Susan Petersen, 308/530-0189. Thank you!

We still need help in the kitchen on Wednesdays for FPC&ME. We need cooks! It does not have to be fancy, in fact you can go and get a pre-made lasagna with some bread and heat it in the oven and you’re done. We have almost all of our classes filled for someone to teach.

We are just looking for a couple more. Call Scott Baker or the church office if you are able to help.

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

Keeping up With the Rices http://bobandkristi.blogspot.com/

Crisis in Kasai A few weeks ago, a conflict erupted between a tribal chief and government military near the city of Tshimbulu, about 70 miles from Kananga. Many people were killed – the estimates range between about 30 to more than 150, including both military and civilians in the village. Homes and schools in the village were destroyed, and many people have fled. As people fled the violence and families were separated, many unaccompanied children were brought to Kananga and temporarily housed in the Kananga jail (which is already overcrowded and has deplorable conditions). Several organizations, including Ditekemena (or the Hope project for street chidren) were asked to temporarily care for some of the children while they await reunification with their families. This conflict did not make the

international news, and we did not hear of it until a few colleagues told us. If you have been following the progress, of the 23 children originally with the program since 2014, 11 children have been reunited with their families, one new child was added, and now 13 await reintegration with families. The process is slow as they seek to provide follow-up and adequate support for families who are welcoming back their child. When this recent crisis arose, the CPC (Congolese Presbyterian Church) leadership agreed that Ditekemena could temporarily care for these displaced children, but the program is already stretched thin with resources. Would you please pray for all of these children, for them to know God’s love and provision in the midst of this crisis. Pray also for Pastor Manyayi and the other caregivers, for discernment, love, and sensitivity as they care for the chidlren and look for the right situations for all of them. Diteke-mena is in need of funds to care for these children, including for food, education, and the process of placement with families.

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

Bring an item (or two) and put them in the grocery cart on the Second Sunday - or - leave it in the pantry box any time during the week - or - take it to the pantry at 114 C Street between 1-3pm.

A Deacons meeting was held on Aug 28, 2016 to finalize our up-coming Christmas project. We have decided to place envelopes for the Deacons, Pantry, Good fellow Shoe fund, and Wreaths Across America on the Christmas tree in the Narthex.

Howard Gebhardt explained to us about Wreaths Across America. Each wreath cost $15.00. These wreaths are placed at markers at Fort McPherson National Cemetery. Last year there were 1,200 wreaths place on markers at the Fort. There are over 8100 markers at the Fort. Each wreath is fresh, no silk. Also, we were informed that volunteers are needed to place the wreaths on the markers on the second Saturday of December. It was voted to give $75.00 now because they have to be ordered by October 17th. The money for Wreaths Across America collected at Christmas will go towards next year’s wreaths.

Maxine Mulder and Janet Hare gave reports on their hospital/in home visits.

We welcomed Pastor Steve to his first Deacon’s meeting.

On September 9th, the Deacons once again served our awesome goulash to 129 people with 33 seconds and thirds at the Salvation Army dinner. Thanks to everyone who assisted with this meal from making cookies, preparing food, serving and cleaning up. The next Salvation Army dinner we will serve is December 2.

Thanks to Cyndee Orr, Susan Peterson and Janet Hare for cleaning the nursery and replacing the batteries in the toys.

The next Deacons’ meeting is November 13, 2016 after church.

Enjoy the cool fall weather. Blessings to all, Irene Ridgway, Secretary

Grace Ministries Food Pantry I love the chill in the evening air these days. The changing seasons are what we love about living in Nebraska. So why is it that we don’t have ’seasons’ at Grace Ministries Food Pantry? A ‘busy season’ and an ‘off season’. The slowest months at the Pantry the last 15 years or so have consistently been February and December, followed by August. There are no common denominators with those three months to say, ’They are less busy because…..’ Very curious, isn’t it?

Let’s take a look at some different statistics that seem to be less curious and more disturb-ing. Ten years ago, in August of 2006, our Pantry served 66 households. Ten years later, in August of 2016, we served 129 households, almost TWICE the number. In August 2006 we served 159 individuals. In August 2016 we served 302 individuals. As you can see, the 2016 Pantry is MUCH different than the 2006 Pantry.

I would imagine that more people know about the Pantry in 2016 than they did in 2006. The economy fluctuates constantly. Unemploy-ment numbers rise and fall continually.

People come and go. But a 50% increase in ten years is something to be concerned about.

You all have met this challenge beau-tifully! You continue to support our Pan-try with donations of cash and food. You contribute to the Pennies for the Pantry

jar and Second Sunday, Second Purchase gro-cery cart. Your volunteer hours continue to be faithful and generous.

We are thankful for ALL that you give and do, and for your prayers. Sadly, as you can see, we need your help more than ever. Canned soup and peanut butter continue to be high on our “Need List”. If hauling food items is too much for you, checks or cash are always welcome! As I’ve said before, our crack team of super-shoppers will make sure that your dona-tions are spent in the most efficient way, to benefit the most people. We can always use additional volunteers, too. And Grace Ministries Food Pantry and its customers will ALWAYS be in need of your prayers.

Thank you friends for your faithfulness in helping your fellow man!

- - - Leigh Henline

Minutes of the Annual Program Meeting and Election of Officers, September 18, 2016:

Moderator: Rev. Stephen Nofel

The meeting was opened with Prayer by Rev. Stephen Nofel

A quorum was present.

The Annual Program Reports were reviewed. The Mission Fellowship report was presented by Gertrude Stew-art.

A motion to receive the Annual Program Report was seconded and approved by the Congregation.

The nominees for Elders for the Class of 2019 were: Scott Baker, Lowell Fenster, Martha Orcutt, Danny Ridg-way and Deb Weitzel. There were no nominations for that position from the floor. A motion to close the nominations and accept the slate of Elders was approved by the Congregation.

The nominees for the Deacons Class of 2019 were: Maxine Mulder, Cyndee Orr, Scott Orr, Irene Ridgway, Joy Petersen, and Zac Ochsner (1 year term). There were no nominations from the floor. A motion to accept the Nominees for Deacon was approved.

A motion to accept Ellie McClymont as Church Historian was approved.

There were no nominations for the 4 Members-at Large on the Nominating Committee. A request for nomina-tions from the floor was unsuccessful. Those members will be secured and elected at the January Congrega-tional meeting.

Having no other business, a motion to adjourn was approved. The meeting was closed with prayer from Pas-tor Steve Nofel.

GATHERINGS AND FELLOWSHIP TIME: PW Coordinating Team will meet Thursday, October 6, at 10:30am

Women’s Fellowships will meet in the church parlor on Thursday, October 13

9:30am - Morning Fellowship Hostess: Judi Pedersen

6:00pm - Evening Spirits Hostess: Jan Walters

* If you have never been a part of one of the fellow-ships, and would like to start, please feel free to come to either the morning or evening fellowship. Also, if you are unable to attend each month, you are more than welcome to just show up when you are able to either of the fellowships. If you need a ride, please call one of the members of the fellowships or the church office. You are always welcome!

* * * * * * * * * *

BIBLE STUDY: This fall our Presbyterian Women are study-ing our Mothers in Faith. Our studies will include Eve, Mrs. Noah, Sarah, and others. Pastor Steve leads these studies for both the morning and evening groups. Each study will begin with what we think we know about the women and read pertinent passages together. Then discuss what we feel about these women of faith and how they relate to us.

Thursday, October 13 at 9:30am or 6:00pm

All women are welcome!

SERVICE: October Service Committee

Coordinator: Janet Hare Members: Charlene Cash, Sandra Kaleuati, Cyndee Orr, Irene Ridgway, Tammy Weber

READING TIME: Attention Readers

The books for the 2016 Reading list are on the cart in the Narthex. Please be sure to sign your name on the card and leave it in the box.

DIRECTORY: The 2016-2017 Women’s directory is available on the table in the Narthex. The directory gives information for the women’s gatherings and fellowship times along with the service committee lists and information regarding the offerings that we contribute to. If you are need-ing your copy mailed, please call the office.

Who Is The Presbyterian Woman? Is she the stay-at-home mom nurturing her young children and beginning their Christian Education? Or is she the working mother who balances children, work and church? Is she the “empty-nester” who has the time for church and civic activities - who is always ready to “lend a hand” when necessary? Or is she a retired woman who loves quilting and helping those in need? Or, maybe, the Presbyterian woman is all of these with very little time for a rocking chair.

- - Dixie Francis, PW Moderator

August Receipts August Expenses Actual: $12,261.79 $21,444.96 Budget: $14,583.34 $16,962.09

YTD Receipts YTD Expenses (as of 7/31/16) (as of 8/31/16)

Actual: $ 94,430.55 $ 98,717.67 Budget: $102,083.38 $122,534.63

August

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

2

9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship Communion *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

3

4 9:00am Mission Fellowship

5 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner 12pm “Girls Lunch” at Espresso Shop

4:30pm FPC & Me 5:45-6:15pm Dinner 6:30pm High School

Rehearsals: 7:00pm Chancel Choir 8:00pm Bell Choir

6

9:30am Mission Meeting

10:30am PW Coor-dinating Meeting

12:00-1:30pm Grief Support

7 6:00pm MS Friendship @ Airport

8 9:00am Adult Bible Study Class

9

9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship

*Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

10 5:30pm EV&CG

11 9:00am Mission Fellowship

12 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

4:30pm FPC & Me 5:45-6:15pm Dinner 6:30pm High School

Rehearsals: 7:00pm Chancel Choir 8:00pm Bell Choir

13 9:30am Morning Fellowship 6:00pm Evening Spirits 12:00-1:30pm Grief Support

14

15 9:00am Adult Bible Study Class

16

9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

17

18 9:00am Mission Fellowship 7:00pm WAM

19 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

4:30pm FPC & Me 5:45-6:15pm Dinner 6:30pm High School

Rehearsals: 7:00pm Chancel Choir 8:00pm Bell Choir

20 12:00-1:30pm Grief Support 4:00pm Finance

21

22

23

9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

24 7:00pm Session

25 9:00am Mission Fellowship

26 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

4:30pm FPC & Me 5:45-6:15pm Dinner 6:30pm High School

Rehearsals: 7:00pm Chancel Choir 8:00pm Bell Choir

27

28 29 9:00am Adult Bible Study Class

30

9am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

31

October 2016

First Presbyterian Church (USA)

1901 W Leota Street

North Platte, Nebraska 69101

Pastor: Rev. Steve Nofel

Our Purpose

“Boldly with Christ, We Belong,

Believe, Grow and Reach Out”

Tel: (308) 532-1083

Fax: (308) 532-2968

Email: office@fpcnp.org

pastorsteve@fpcnp.org

Web: www.fpcnp.org

Sunday Services

10:00am Worship

(Live Stream Broadcast at www.fpcnp.org)

Wednesday

FPC & ME (Sept - May)

Choir Rehearsals

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Non-Profit

Organization

U.S. Postage Paid

Permit 88

North Platte, NE 69101