You are Invited to Attend Christmas Week Activities

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Beginning the week of December 19, First Presbyterian Church will be celebrating its 150th anniversary as well as Christmas.  You want to come and participate in all of these functions. Beginning on Sunday, December 19, at 10:30 a.m. our pastors will have a service honoring the existence of our church for 150 years. Pastor Jon will preach “Celebrating our Past, With Hope for our Future.”  This will be followed by a special coffee hour to honor our church. That evening, a new tradition will begin with having our first annual Wassail Party in Knox Hall. This will begin at 7:00 p.m.  It will be an hour of fellowship, cookies from around the world, wassail, and carols.  What a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas!

One does not want to miss our Christmas Eve service. It begins with a music prelude at 4:30 p.m.  You will have the opportunity to hear a variety of music through voice and instrument.  This will be followed by our beautiful candlelight Christmas Eve service at 5:00 p.m.  If you want a warm glow in your heart about Christmas, then First Presbyterian Church is the place to be on Christmas Eve.  You will be received with a very warm welcome. Join us!

Posted December 17, 2010, 12:22 am | Comments Off 

Wassail Party Huge Success!

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Did you attend the first annual Wassail Party?  If you didn’t, you missed a wonderful time! As one walked down the stairs to Knox Hall, one could hear Christmas music being played and also the aroma of the cinnamon and other spices in the non-alcoholic Wassail.   Knox Hall was beautifully decorated for an evening of festivities.  The Wassail was handed out, Joy’s home made cookies from around the world were out of this world, and the Christmas caroling was great fun.  People of all ages attended, and we even acted out the Christmas carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”  Table six won best performance in their interpretation of six geese a-laying!  If you didn’t come this year, mark your 2011 calendar for next year.  The party will be held on the Sunday before Christmas!  Hope to see you Christmas Eve, and Merry Christmas!

Posted December 16, 2010, 12:46 pm | Comments Off 

Omaha Digital Bridge

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The Problem

There is a troubling gap between people who have the ability, access and skills to benefit from computers and the Internet and those who do not.  This problem is commonly referred to as the Digital Divide, which has gained considerable support as an international problem. The truth is, this is as much of a problem right here in Omaha, as it is in Africa, India….

Omaha Digital Bridge is our solution. Our goal is to eliminate unemployment in Omaha and build contributors to our community. We do this by:  Serving the needs of the un– and under-employed; Equipping them to bridge the digital divide; and Deploying them with employable skills to serve others and our community.

Please help us help Omaha Digital Bridge by donating books,  movies, and music to FPC as listed below.

Posted December 11, 2010, 10:04 am | Comments Off 

December Pastor’s Manna

Filed Under Archives, Pastor's Notes

     As I write this, it is Veteran’s Day… early November, and already here I am writing what can only be described as my Advent and Christmas Newsletter article.  I was driving around between meetings yesterday and noticed an outdoor shopping mall near 72nd and Center already putting up their Christmas Decorations. 

     We have had discussions this week at the church about how it seems like Christmas is being thought about earlier and earlier each year by the establishments, and sadly shook our heads… but there is another side to this, that perhaps might make it a bit more palatable to my fellow Christians in the faith.

            Advent is a time when we are to be waiting… waiting for the birth of our Lord, and waiting for His anticipated return.  We are to be in a state of heightened readiness, remembering what it was like to be waiting for Jesus’ birth, over 2000 years ago, and waiting, ready for his return which could be tonight, next year, ten years from now or even thousands of years from now.

            In that light…. It doesn’t quite seem so wrong to be waiting for Christmas in early November.  I remember one time my Mother came to visit years ago and I had not taken my Artificial Christmas Tree down.  I explained to her (thinking fast) that it was symbolic of the constant state of waiting for the birth and return of our Lord, and that the evergreen was green year round.  (It didn’t work).

            Now, while I was using that as an excuse, the base argument is valid.  We are to be ALWAYS waiting, ALWAYS watching, ALWAYS ready, anticipating our Lord.  So when you notice what seems to be the commercialization creeping in on Christmas, use that as a way to remind yourself of that state of waiting we are each called to. 

May Christ be a real presence in your homes this Season as you anticipate His birth!

In Him,
                                               Pastor Jon

Posted December 4, 2010, 9:02 pm | Comments Off