Church and Home February 2017

“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: Linsey Nicola

CHOIR DIRECTOR: Connie McCreery

BELL DIRECTOR: Jill Dolan

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 Rick Libsack Nancy Mack

Ellie McClymont Ron Ochsner Martha Orcutt

Danny Ridgway Mandy Vargas

Deb Weitzel

DEACONS Howard & Ruth Gebhardt

Janet & Leroy Hare Tammy Miller

Maxine Mulder Zac Ochsner

Cyndee & Scott Orr Joy Petersen

Irene Ridgway Bev & Cecil Sallee

Bob Weber Rod Weitzel

Jenny Zachry

PW MODERATOR: Dixie Francis

What time is it when an elephant sits on your fence?

Time to get a new fence.

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Jesus

Christ our Lord! – Romans 8:39

I begin this piece with a favorite old family joke and an inspirational sen-

tence because the remainder is not meant to be entertaining or inspirational,

but informative about our installed pastor search.

On Sunday, January 29, we will hold (have held depending on when you

are reading this) a meeting of the congregation. At that meeting we will elect

(have elected) the Church Nominating Committee. Once elected, as modera-

tor of session, I will (have – this is too much work, I am going to pick a tense

and stay with it). I will task them with putting together and presenting a slate

of candidates for the Pastor Nominating Committee.

Once the slate is complete, session will call another meeting of the con-

gregation to elect the Pastor Nominating Committee (PNC). Once the PNC

is elected, as interim pastor, I will continue to pastor this congregation to the

best of my ability, but as far as the search of the next installed pastor is con-

cerned – I am out of it.

Working with Central Nebraska Presbytery’s Committee on Ministry, the

PNC will put together the church’s “Ministry Information Form” (MIF). The

MIF is the church’s resume. It tells perspective pastors all about our congre-

gation. It will be posted on-line to pcusa.org. The computer will match the

MIF with pastors searching for churches. The PNC will also solicit resumes

from pastors as well.

When the PNC begins this solicitation, our family and will consider the

MIF, and our calling from the Lord and determine if I am called to the per-

manent position. If so, then the PNC will be free to agree or disagree without

any ill will. It is all about FOLLOWING GOD’S CALL for both our congre-

gation and my family.

O.K., so I can’t go a whole letter without just a little something inspira-

tional.

We needed another funny as well. How do catch a squirrel? Climb up a

tree and look like a nut.

Grace and Peace,

Pastor Steve

6 Maverick Vargas 7 Bob Weber 9 Anne Baxter 14 Kason Baker 14 Chuck Nofel 15 Ron Detlefsen Paula Newmyer 19 Brandon Baxter

19 Rhys Pierce 20 Bob Kohler 21 Porter Connick 23 Jenny Zachry 24 Leigh Henline Chantel Johnson Marlene Minshull Eldon Walters 25 Mike Leibhart 27 Karen Troyer Alec Wesslund 28 Brad Hacker

February Anniversaries 2/5/72 Jane & Mike McCrone

Rachel & Scott Allison 1010 East D Street

Mary Ann Blackledge 1211 Union Avenue

Lyle Johnson Sutherland Care Center

Mail: 4590 W Walker Road

Pat Johnson 1810 West S Street Lincoln NE 68528

We extend our sympathy and prayers to Marilyn Jones whose brother, Kenneth Melham, passed away January 1.

We extend our sympathy and prayers to the family and friends of Johanna Bedell who passed away January 6.

We extend our sympathy and prayers to Sandra Kaleuati and family on the death of her husband, K.F. “Kelo”, who passed away January 6.

We extend our sympathy and prayers to Glenda Feeney whose brother, John Feeney, passed away January 16.

Fellowship Time!!!

GIRLS' LUNCH OUT - "Girls" of the congregation no host lunch at noon on the first Wednesday of each month at the Espresso Shop downtown!

*Remember, Wednesday, February 1, 12:00 noon, or whenever you can get there.

MEN’S COFFEE HOUR - All Men of the church are invited to meet at the Pop Corner on Wednesdays at 9:00am.

MS FRIENDSHIP - meets the first Friday of the month at 6:00pm at the Airport restaurant. Open to everyone. RSVP to Pennie Mattke or the church office.

ALL are welcome!

Pastor Steve’s contact information:

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

Email: pastorsteve@fpcnp.org

Thanksgiving Offering - $650 designated to Bethany Presbyterian Church

(PCUSA) in Lumberton, NC

Christmas Special Offering $510 - (will be divided equally

among the four deacon offerings)

Deacons Christmas Fund Deacons Fund - $595 Grace Ministries Food Pantry - $345 Wreaths Across America - $60 Goodfellow Shoe Fund - $275

Thank you to all who donated to these worthy organizations.

2016 Financial Report and

2017 Budget is available on

the table in the Narthex.

Elders Installed: Scott Baker Lowell Fenster Martha Orcutt Deb Weitzel

Elders Ordained: Danny Ridgway

Deacons Installed: Maxine Mulder Zachry Ochsner Cyndee Orr Scott Orr Irene Ridgway Deacons Ordained: Joy Petersen

Thank you, Thank you, every-one, who gave donations to the Deacons’ Christmas fund. We are blessed to have such a loving and giving Church family. The Deacons had voted to have four

separate choices to make your donations to. These were:

Deacon’s fund used for helping people in need, supplies for the Disaster closet and the Salvation Army dinners. Grace Ministries Food Pantry so they can purchase commodities as needed. Goodfellow Shoe Fund Wreaths across America placing live wreaths on the grave markers at Fort McPherson.

We received: Deacons’ Fund-$555, Grace Ministries Pantry-$335, Goodfellow Shoe Fund-$125 and Wreaths Across America-$60 for total donations of $1,075. Amazing! The Deacons maintain a Disaster Closet to help anyone who has sustained a loss of their home, to help replenish small kitchen, bathroom and bedroom items. Welcome to Joy Peterson who will be joining us as a new Deacon for the next three years. Also, thanks to Susan Peters and Dan Ridgway who have left after serving the last three years on the Board of Deacons. May the New Year help us all to do more to serve the Lord.

Irene Ridgway, Moderator / Secretary Deacons

2017 Officers Installed/ Ordained January 15

Consider Your Calling What are you interested in? How can those interest help our beloved congregation? Or, even, what would you like to learn more about? Our session is looking for at large members of the congregation to join our various committees. This is an effort to improve our congregation’s communications, involve more people in leadership, and taking some pressure off our current leaders – more hands make the work easier. See the bulletin boards in the narthex for descriptions of each committee and/or talk to a session member, or Pastor Steve Nofel, who is an ex-officio member of each committee. Our Session Committees and members of session on those committees are:

Christian Education: Scott Baker, Kristi Leibhart, Ellie McClymont Evangelism & Church Growth: Mandy Vargas, Kristi, Dean Finance: Church Treasurer, Dean Kurth and Danny Ridgway Mission: Deb Weitzel, Nancy Mack, Ellie McClymont Personnel: Nancy Mack, Mandy Vargas Properties: Chuck Francis, Rachel Allison, Lowell Fenster, Danny Ridgway Worship & Music: Martha Orcutt, Ann Jones Our Manual of Operations urges session members to seek additional members of committees from the congregation. Again: Consider Your Calling!

March 1 - Ash Wednesday No FPC & Me 5:00pm - Dinner for everyone 6:00pm - Worship Service

March 5 - First Sunday of Lent

March 12 - Second Sunday of Lent

March 19 - Third Sunday of Lent

March 26 - Fourth Sunday of Lent

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

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

Savings group member testimonies We have shared before about the savings groups for women that have been started around Kananga. The first group was started last August (2015), and they gave themselves the name “Tujukai, Tuibake” (Get Up, Let’s Build). That group finished their first cycle in July of this year, and held a big celebration on the day that all the women received back their savings with interest. In June, our colleague Christi Boyd visited this group and recorded the meeting and also some testimonies from group members about how they have used loans from the group and their plan for their savings. I have selected just a few of the testi-monies and compiled them into this short 3 mi-nute video – I hope it can give you a taste of the significant impact that this program is hav-ing in communities! (A video can be seen at the blog website: http://bobandkristi.blogspot.com/)

“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 St, between 1-3pm.

Home Communion: Pastor Steve along with one of the Deacons have been extending the table and taking communion to our shut-ins. If you have not received communion and would like to be receiv-ing it, please contact the church office. Or . . . If you are just interested in a visit, we would like to hear from you also.

The Mission Committee is pleased to announce the Thanksgiving Offering of $650 was sent to the flood victim families who are members of the Bethany Presbyterian Church of Lumberton, NC. Thank you all for this amazing response to an over-whelming need in that congregation.

At its January meeting, the Session granted approval to the Mission Committee's proposal of gifting 50% of the Easter offering to One Great Hour of Sharing and 50% to our local Habitat for Humanity homebuilding projects. The committee wanted you to be aware of this mission outreach well in advance of our Lent and Easter season.

NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR MISSION

Great Plains Health is asking local congrega-tions to partner with the hospital to meet the needs of persons who are discharged from the hospital, but soon readmitted due to lack of assistance in daily living. This assistance could be met by volunteers rather than medical per-sonnel, i.e., transportation, food, clothes, visits, help with sorting out paperwork and medications

Robin Storer, hospital chaplain, whom we have had the pleasure of hearing in our own worship services, is leading this effort. He is asking area churches to share the ministries they currently provide for individuals and families in our community which might fit into this program. The Mission Committee has responded with offers of help through our Grace Ministries Pantry, but felt there may be members who would wish to respond personally as well.

If you have a special area of experience or interest or just wish to be helpful, please contact Robin Storer. His e-mail is storerr@gphealth.org If you would prefer to contact him by phone, please call the him directly at (308) 568-7542.

On behalf of the Mission Committee: Nancy Mack, Deb Weitzel, Ellie McClymont

Grace Ministries Food Pantry 2016 was another banner year at Grace Ministries Food Pan-try! Director Dean Kurth has fin-ished his calculations for 2016, and we have much to celebrate TOGETHER!

TOGETHER, we fed 3,454 individuals in 1,526 households. Each individual received several days worth of food. They took home frozen and canned meat, bread, canned vegetables and fruit, canned soup, peanut butter, boxed maca-roni and cheese, dried beans, rice, pasta, butter or margarine, muffin mix or Hamburger Helper, instant potatoes, fruit juice, and cereal. They also received dairy products such as milk and yogurt, fresh vegetables and fruit, and eggs when available.

TOGETHER, we worked toward the common goal of helping those in need. You at First Pres-byterian Church logged 2,135 hours in 2016, purchasing food, filling sacks, unloading deliver-ies, stocking shelves, picking up donations, keeping records, serving customers. Members of First Baptist gave 205 hours in 2016 serving customers, First Evangelical Lutheran gave 186 hours, First Methodist gave 206 hours, and the Masons gave 191 hours. Volunteer time to-taled close to 3000 hours in 2016!

TOGETHER, we donated food and funds in 2016! Donations came from churches, business-es, organizations and individuals. Our Redeemer Lutheran, First Christian Church, as well as our partner churches were generous with donations of food and cash. Businesses in town contribut-ed to the Pantry through their food drives such

as Curves for Women, Brandy Barrett Insur-ance, Farm Credit Services, Armada Media, JC’s Auto Wash, Pratt Dental, Lincoln County Farm Bureau, and North Platte Care Center. Organiza-tions gave generously: North Platte Kiwanis, Buffalo Bill Kiwanis, Eagles Auxiliary, Thrift Center for the Handicapped, PEO, German American Club, and Boy Scout Troops. Lincoln County Community Development and the local office of the USDA even got involved! The USPS Mail Carriers, NPHS Student Council, and KOLN-KGIN Can Care-a-van all sponsor food drives that are VERY important to us. Johnson Distributing / Pepperidge Farms donated thousands of loaves of bread. And individuals came by the dozens with cash, checks, pennies, and non perishables….thank you all! Grace Ministries Food Pantry goes through roughly 60,000 pounds of food, so you can see why these donations are so important!

TOGETHER, we at First Presbyterian gave generously to the Deacons Christmas Fund, Pennies for the Pantry, Second Sunday-Second Purchase food cart, and donated plastic bags and food items to our collection box in the Narthex. Mission Fellowship made a wonderful donation as well.

It takes a village to raise a child…..and it takes a caring community to feed its hungry. We've started out January 2017 as busy as ever. Your faithful giving and sharing gives us the food to continue. Your prayers lift up our workers and our customers Your trust in us warms our hearts! TOGETHER, we are changing lives!!

- - - Leigh Henline

What is per capita? ITA: A OVERVIEW In essence, per capita is a set amount of money (apportionment) per member that congrega-tions pay to the larger Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Every Presbyterian shares in the benefit of the PC(USA)’s system of government, so every Presbyterian is asked to share the expenses associated with coordinating and performing the functions of that system. Why per capita? Per capita exists as a way for all Presbyterians to share costs that belong to the whole church, to give meaning to the interdependent nature Presbyterian polity. Per capita is part of the glue that holds Presbyterians together. It exists to allow the whole church to share equitably in those things that make us Presbyterian. Per capita allows us to work with other churches to further the mission of Jesus Christ around the world. (taken from www.pcusa.org) Our per member apportionment for 2017 is $30.00.

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.

High School Youth Group Meets on Wednesdays from

6:30- 8:00pm Food and fellowship

Bring your friends!

Please contact: Renee Callaghan 530-1905 Susan Petersen 530-0189

Teachers & Cooks Needed!

The Christian Education Commit-tee is looking for teachers and cooks for our spring sessions . The lesson plans will already be put together. There is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the office or you can call Scott Baker

(530-9920) and let him know which Wednesdays you will be available.

Adult Study Opportunities All are welcome to join either of our adult studies: Thursday, February 2 and 23 at 7:00 p.m. is our Book Study on Have a Little Faith. It is never too late to join in.

Saturday, February 4, 11 and 25 at 9:00 a.m. is our Bible Study reading together and commenting on the Gospel of Matthew. This is an easy group to jump in and out

as you can make it. We simply read along and stop when the hour is over. Then pick up at that point the next week. Like they used to say in school, no prerequisites required.

Dinner will be served at 5pm on Wednesday, March 1st, before the Ash Wednesday service which will begin at 6pm. All are welcome, a sign up list

will provided. We also would like some people to bring a dessert. There will be no FPC & Me that day. Bring the family and come for dinner and worship.

Scout Sunday is February 5

Come and join us for worship that morning to hear the Word, share the sacrament, and fellow-ship. Following the worship service the Boy Scout Troop 291 will be providing our annual “Soup-er Bowl” Lunch. Also, it will be a time to celebrate with the Ochsner family the achievement of the newest Eagle Scout, Jakob. Congratulations! Way to go Jakob.

You are invited! The Ochsner family and Boy Scout Troop 291 cordially invite you to attend the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for Jakob on Saturday, February 4th, at 2:00pm at the church. There will be cake and refreshments afterwards.

GATHERINGS AND FELLOWSHIP TIME: PW Coordinating Team will meet

Thursday, February 2, at 10:30am

Women’s Fellowships will meet in the church parlor on Thursday, February 9

9:30am - Morning Fellowship Hostesses: Dorothy Conger & Janet Hare

6:00pm - Evening Spirits Hostess: Ann Jones

* 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 fellow-ships or the church office. You are always welcome!

BIBLE STUDY: Presbyterian Women are studying our Mothers in Faith. Pastor Steve leads these studies for both the morning and evening groups. Each study begins 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.

Join us Thursday, February 9,

at 9:30am or 6:00pm

All women are welcome!

SERVICE: February Service Committee

Coordinator: Chris Ochsner

Members: Rachel Allison, Jeanne Stearns, Karen Troyer, Janice Walters, Ramona Wickenkamp, Jenny Zachry

READING TIME: Attention Readers

Your reading lists for 2016 can be turned in to Judi Pedersen or brought to the church office.

The Care Network continues to share in the joys of its members. In 2016, over 500 birthday, anniversary, sympathy, get well, and 'thinking of you’ cards were sent out. In addition, Easter and Christmas cards were sent to our home bound and nursing home residents. The cards are donated each year and the stamps are provided by the church.

Every attempt is made to make sure special events of our members are being celebrated, but if you know of one that the church is missing, please let Church Secretary, Naomi, know so she can get it recorded! Address changes, too, should be sent immediately to the church office.

The Care Network is committed to making First Presbyterian a loving, caring, and nurturing church!

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

12noon Girls Lunch out @ The Espresso

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

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

2

10:30am PW Coordinating Meeting 7:00pm Book Study

3

6:00pm MS Friendship @ Airport

4

9am Adult Bible Study

5

9:30am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship / Communion

*Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org 11:15am Boy Scout Soup-er Bowl Dinner

6

7

9:00am Mission Fellowship

8 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

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

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

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

1:00pm Mission Meeting

NO Book Study

10

11 9am Adult Bible Study

12

9:30am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

13 5:30pm EV&CG

14 9:00am Mission Fellowship

15 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

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

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

16 NO Book Study

17

18 NO Bible Study

19

9:30am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

20 4:00pm Finance

21 9:00am Mission Fellowship 6:00pm WAM

22 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

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

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

23 7:00pm Book Study

24

25 9am Adult Bible Study

26

9:30am Choir Rehearsal 10am Worship *Live Streaming @

www.fpcnp.org

27 7:00pm Session

28

March 1 9am “Men’s Coffee Hour” at Pop Corner

NO FPC & Me 5:00pm Dinner 6:00pm Ash Wed Worship

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

February 2017