August Is Presbyterian Women’s Mission Month!

Filed Under Archives, Mission

This year the mission focus will be PREVENT BLINDNESS NEBRASKA.  Eye glasses will be collected throughout the month.  Our Farmers Market will start on Sunday, August 7, and continue every Sunday during the month.  Do you have produce, homemade jams, etc., to donate?  Everything on the market table is available to purchase for a cash donation.  The annual  Bake Sale will be held on Sunday, August 14.  On Sunday, August 21, the Annual Mission Sunday Luncheon will be held to which ALL are invited.  Stop by the reservations table in Calvin Hall on August 7 and 14 to sign up.  Cost is $8.00 for adults and $4.00 for children 10 and under.

Please join us in helping those who are impacted by vision difficulties.  All proceeds go to Prevent Blindness Nebraska.

Posted July 31, 2011, 10:37 pm | Comments Off 

FPC Helps with 5.8K CASA Run

Filed Under Archives, Community Outreach

On July 16, youth and adults from First Presbyterian Church helped with Midtown Crossing’s first annual 5.8K CASA Run. The 5.8 K comes from the height of Mount Kilimanjaro.  CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. This group helps youngsters who are in foster homes.  People working through CASA helps protect a child’s fundamental human rights.

We helped  in three areas of the run – one being the halfway point water station.  The day was cloudy, but as July was warm and humid, glasses of water were greatly appreciated.  Secondly, at the finish line, we had a tent with ice cold water bottles.  Thirdly, our youth held signs to encourage the runners as they trudged up Farnam Street and also made the corner turn on the return route at 32nd and Farnam Streets.  At least 350 people participated in this cause.  The majority of the people ran, but there was also a walking race as well.  A sense of accomplishment was had by all, and we were pleased to be a part of this run.  Join us next year as volunteers.  Watch the website for updates.

 

Posted July 21, 2011, 9:11 pm | Comments Off 

Volunteers Needed for Habitat for Humanity

Filed Under Archives

Do you like to build things or just help?  If you do, First Presbyterian Church is involved with Habitat for Humanity and is working on a house at 1519 South 27th Street in Omaha. The workers are busy on Fridays and Saturdays through August 13.  One may choose to work mornings or afternoons. The only requirement needed is to be 16 years of age or older.  No training is needed as there will be on-sight training.  You may sign-up in Calvin Hall, or call Diane at 402-345-5383.  If you don’t wish to pound a nail, bringing food to the sight is always welcome as well as a cash donation.  Help if you can, as this is a very worthy cause.

Posted July 19, 2011, 10:29 am | Comments Off 

July Pastor’s Manna

Filed Under Archives, Pastor's Notes

Independent? Not so much.

This month we will be celebrating Independence Day on Monday, July 4th.  While most of Omaha is going to be lighting up the grill, having people over, and probably lighting off a lot of fireworks, we should take pause to think about who we should recognize that we still are dependent upon, and what our independence allows us to do.

We celebrate this July 4th because we are recognizing the independence we have of a country ruling over us, taxing us, and making decisions that affect us without seeking our representative comments.  Another significant aspect of what we celebrate on Independence Day is independence from the Church of England.  We are free to worship God in our own method, without oversight from a particular church or country.

Over the years, this eventually became what we know as freedom of religion, the ability to worship the God in a way that is meaningful to us.  To some this means choosing not to worship or believe in an Almighty maker, but that really is quite a departure from the original idea of independence regarding HOW we worship God, not even broaching the question of IF we worship God.

We, as Americans, love the fact that we are independent of a ruler or set of laws telling us how to worship, but we must continue to accept the basic understanding of the level of dependence we have on God as our creator, Jesus Christ our redeemer, and the Holy Spirit as our sustainer.  It is through God that we exist, through God that we survive, and through God that we can seek to change the world for the better.  Join me this month, and every month as we celebrate the dependence we have upon God as our creator, our provider, our nurturer, our helper, our comforter, our champion, and our sustainer!

In Him,  Pastor Jon

Posted July 1, 2011, 10:02 pm | Comments Off